READFIELD – After two thrilling and nerve-wracking playoff wins, the season ended in unceremonious fashion Saturday for the Gray-New Gloucester boys’ soccer team.
That’s what playing the two-time defending state champions can do to you.
Top-seeded Maranacook took the lead in the first half and scored again early in the second half and never looked back in a 3-0 B South semifinal win over the Patriots.
“They’re athletic,” Gray-NG coach Andy Higgins said. “They work hard. That was the report on them. That’s what we knew about them. They made it really difficult for us to get into a rhythm.”
Kent Mohlar scored a goal and had two assists to lead the Black Bears (16-0). Maranacook won the state title in Class C the last two years and are aiming for a Class B crown this fall.
“We’re definitely proud of the two Class C championships we won,” Mohlar said. “We feel like we still have something to prove, especially now that we’re in Class B.”
Maranacook will host Yarmouth for the B South title next Wednesday. The Clippers beat Greely to advance. The fifth-ranked Patriots end their season 10-6-1.
“I’ve got to tip my hat to my guys,” Higgins said. “They put together a solid year. The seniors, for their four years of their career, it’s not been that they played well but because the other team played bad. I love these kids. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort they put forward this year.”
After beating Lincoln Academy in penalty kicks and Mountain Valley in overtime, Maranacook proved a challenge for Gray-NG. The Black Bears have size and speed and play very hard and aggressive. It’s an intensity that the Patriots struggled to match.
“That’s our trademark- pressure the ball,” Maranacook coach Don Beckwith said. “That’s what we do. We’re pretty fast all over the place, and we’re pretty skilled all over the place. It a really up-tempo game and we try to make people play that way.”
The Patriots were just never able to get their passing attack going with any consistency. The Black Bears controlled play and possessed the ball. Gray-NG struggled to maintain any kind of offensive push that led to shots. Bryce Hayman had a couple shots early on and Nate Brindley had a bid, but the only other shot the Patriots got was a try by Nick Chandler in the second half.
“Our offense comes from our defense,” said Beckwith, who noted that six shots is the most the team has given up all year in a game. The Patriots finished with four. “We really defend pretty well. We didn’t give up many shots and the shots we gave up were quite a ways away. That’s what we have to do.”
Maranacook scored its first goal with 17:58 left in the first half. Chris Beckwith put a free kick toward the front. Mohler was there to put a head on it.
“Chris and I have played together for a long time,” Mohler said. “We have a sense of what the other is going to do.”
That put the Black Bears in the driver’s seat. Maranacook outshot Gray-NG 7-3 in the first half and 13-1 in the second half. Gray-NG keeper John-Henry Villenueva finished a solid effort with 12 saves.
“Getting one early is always a big deal,” Mohler said. “It gives us a lot of momentum. It gets everyone pumped up. We just kept rolling from there.”
Maranacook got the second goal just 2:14 into the second half. Mohler put a free kick off the crossbar. Hayden Elwell was there to put in the rebound. Then with 10:43 left, a throw from the right side set up a Max McQuillen goal and a 3-0 lead.
“They didn’t score a goal in the round of play,” Higgins said. “It was three set pieces, a couple fouls and a throw in.”
Despite coming up short, Higgins said his Patriots produced a great season. It was the first time in over two decades that the team won 10 games.
“It stings right now,” Higgins said. “When the dust settles a little bit, I hope the guys, especially the seniors, can look back at the body of work that they’ve put together.”
Higgins credits his group of 10 seniors for the success the program has achieved in recent years. Prior to their freshman year, the Patriots had not won a playoff game in 15 years.
“These guys have gotten a playoff win each and every year,” Higgins said. “So this senior class is responsible for the direction this program is going. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I hate to see them go, but I wish them nothing but the best.”
kmills@sunjournal.com
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