The Maranacook girls soccer team’s season will end sometime Saturday night, at the conclusion of the Class C title game against Bucksport at Hampden Academy. And when it does, so, too, will the careers of one of the most dominant senior classes in program history.

In 62 games over the last four years, the seniors — Sopbia Tweedie, Alissa Michaud, Alexis Michaud, Kaleigh Kubicki, Lily Caban and Addie Watson — are an astounding 52-4-6. That’s an 83.9 winning percentage, the highest in program history, according to Maranacook head coach Travis Magnusson.

Maranacook (16-0-1) is a win away from its second straight state title — it beat Bucksport 5-0 last fall for the hardware. The Bucks (17-0-0) and Bears kick off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s amazing,” Tweedie said. “It’s amazing to be back again. It’s just an incredible feeling to have the chance to win back-to-back (titles). Last year was our first state championship ever, and now to go back again for my senior year is an even more incredible experience.”

“It’s pretty remarkable what they’ve done as a class,” Magnusson added. “We had never won states before (last year), they were a big part in supporting the seniors last year and helped us win that. We lost an unbelievable senior class. I don’t know if people expected us to come out and do it again, but we did with the leadership of (this year’s) seniors.”

The group has played together for years. Kubicki, the goalie, is the newest member, joining the squad last season. Alexis Michaud has transitioned from player to team manager over the past two seasons as she battles chordoma, a cancerous tumor on her spine that eventually led to spinal fusion surgery.

“We’re all really close and we really love each other,” Tweedie said. “We just really want to push each other to be better. We’re always there for each other and we always want each other to push and give 110 percent. I think that’s also why we’ve had a very successful class, we just want to push each other to do our best.”

There was no guarantee Maranacook would return to the state final. The Black Bears graduated a large senior class, including leading scorer Emily Harper, who is now playing for Division II Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. It was up to this year’s senior class to help shape what the team would be, on an off the pitch.

“The senior group that left last year really built our culture,” Alissa Michaud said. “They showed us what it was like to be seniors and to lead a team to a state championship. We just took what we could from what they taught us last year and worked hard to lead our team to the state championship this year.”

On the field, the Black Bears have shown a dynamic attack. Three players — Watson, junior Natalie Mohlar and freshman Phoebe Bell — have each scored more than 20 goals this season.

“I think this year’s team, there’s not just one person to go to (for scoring),” Tweedie said. “Everyone is amazing, anyone can pass to anyone (on the field) and you don’t have to really worry about moving the ball to one person or have one scorer. We have five different people that can score goals. I think that’s amazing for us and I think that is what’s gotten us so far. We’re really diverse.”

“I knew from the beginning of our season that we were going to have a great year, because we have a great group of kids and they’re always working,” Alissa Michaud said. “The freshmen coming up (to varsity), it was new for them, but (their hard work) showed that they wanted to be there and help our team build and (help) lead us to a state championship.”

Maranacook is quite familiar with Bucksport. The Golden Bucks edged Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy 2-1 in the C North title game Wednesday in Presque Isle.

“I think they only lost one or two players from last year, so they have almost everybody back,” Magnusson said. “It’s a very similar team that we played last year, but obviously a year older and a year better. I think they’re better than they were last year. But we’re familiar with them. They definitely have a lot of offensive weapons and they’re definitely a solid team. We’re up for the challenge and we’re excited for it.”

There will be time to for the seniors to celebrate their accomplishments after Saturday. But there is still one more game to be played and one last piece of a legacy to leave to future Maranacook teams.

“To show (the younger players) what it means to be in a state championship and what it means to win a state championship, would be awesome,” Alissa Michaud said. “If we win a state championship, all they’ll want for the rest of their careers is make another run to a state championship and do the best they can (to get there).”

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Field hockey: Skowhegan senior goalie is an old pro at a new sport

Next »

Field hockey: Skowhegan, Cheverus set to battle in title clash of Class A powers