BUCKFIELD — Six boys’ soccer seniors challenged themselves prior to their final regular-season game at Buckfield in the Tuesday twilight. Enjoy the moment, yes, but be physical and emotional leaders without letting the emotions get the best of them.
Looks like they did fine. Three of them — Sidney Jackson, Jon Randolph and Hunter Wiley — scored a goal to boost top-ranked Buckfield past Rangeley, 4-0, in an East-West Conference and Class D South clash.
Sophomore Ethan Jackson added a goal and two assists for Buckfield (10-1), which has outscored opponents 46-7 this season, losing only to Class C Sacopee Valley.
“We all just love the game a lot,” Sidney Jackson said. “We’re really dedicated to it. We have a lot of chemistry. We know what’s going on in each other’s heads.”
Buckfield broke it open with two goals in the final 4:19 of the first half to snag a 3-0 lead. Rangeley (2-5-1) was playing one man short at the time due to two injuries and a yellow card.
Jacob Hackett’s through ball set up Randolph, the school’s all-time leading scorer, with a breakaway against Rangeley goalkeeper Tim White. Sidney Jackson headed in younger brother Ethan’s corner kick just before the half.
“Sidney is pure will, all the time,” Buckfield coach Kyle Rines said. “He just makes goals happen.”
The goals ended a 30-minute lull after Ethan Jackson’s 25-yard boot early in the game, something the Bucks found eerily reminiscent of their 4-1 road victory over the Lakers.
“It was definitely an important game, because last time we played them we got up 1-0 and it ended up tied, and then we pulled out a couple goals in the end,” Wiley said. “They always play a physical type of game. They definitely want to win. It was important that from the get-go everybody was ready to go.”
Wiley scored from 10 yards out early in the second half. Ethan Jackson again set up the blast, which curved just inside the near post.
Jacob Kraske made five of his six saves after intermission, with Rangeley pushing relentlessly to break up the shutout.
“We’re playing well at the right time,” Rines said. “One of our goals today in our pregame talk was that the seniors had to take control of the game. Not just today because it was the senior game, but every game. They’re motivators. They’re guys that have been there, done that.”
With darkness setting in, Kraske smothered Ricky Thompson’s bid off an indirect kick just before it crossed the goal line.
Hunter Foss also fought to clear a loose ball off a Lakers’ corner kick as time expired.
“You’ve got to commend the kids. They played right to that last whistle,” Rangeley assistant coach Chip Smith said. “We do surprise some teams. The outcome of the season is to build young gentlemen and then build soccer players. That’s the goal we’ve taken as coaches.”
Smith and Danielle Ellis direct the Lakers, who have locked up their first playoff berth in eight years. No. 6 Rangeley has beaten and tied No. 2 Greater Portland Christian.
White made 17 saves. Thompson and Leo Perez played pivotal roles defensively.
Midfielders Bryan Chabe and Noah Patenaude and fullback Alec Brough are Buckfield’s other seniors. Chabe’s work in the middle third of the field led to numerous Buckfield scoring chances.
The Bucks have never won a regional or state title in boys’ soccer, but the numbers and experience just might add up this year.
“When I first stepped on this field, I never thought soccer was my thing,” Sidney Jackson said. “You grow love for the sport. You grow love for the people that play.”
koakes@sunjournal.com
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