Week 1: Raiders carry hot sticks; LR kicks birds

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Week 1 is in the books with some impressive starts and some kinks still to be worked out for Lake Region and Fryeburg Academy.

FIELD HOCKEY

Fryeburg Academy Coach Dede Frost expected to see her frontline make mad dashes toward the Lake Region cage.

What she liked about Fryeburg’s 5-1 victory in the season opener last Thursday was the constant communication she heard between Raider players.

“It was quite a game for our offense. They were ready to play. It was really nice to listen to them — not just watch them. They were talking to each other with every pass and push, and it paid off,” Coach Frost said. “Overall, I was very pleased. It’s nice to see some pretty hockey, and it’s twice as nice when it’s your team out there doing it!”

The Raiders struck first as Sage Hennessy made a strong push up the field, passing off to Ellen Bacchiocchi, who tipped the ball past LR goalie Shannon Van Loan with 25:52 left in the first half.

Two minutes later, Fryeburg struck again as Christina DiPietro set up Hennessy for a score. Fryeburg made it 3-0 with DiPietro scoring off a pass from Hennessy. Minutes later, it was that same connection — DiPietro from Hennessy — to increase the Raider lead to 4-0.

Lake Region quickly answered as Chelcie Murch connected to make it 4-1.

Fryeburg closed out the half as Courtney Bartlett set up Emily Heggie for the game’s final goal.

If there was one area Coach Frost looks to see some improvement, it would be the midfield play.

“Our midfield wasn’t quite together, and that’s something we will continue to work on with every passing game,” Coach Frost said.

Meanwhile, Lake Region Coach Dagny Leland said the opener will serve as a good learning tool for her club.

“It seems they (Fryeburg) have a great team with incredible speed on the forward line,” Coach Leland said. “That game was one that we just learn from and move on.”

• Lake Region indeed put the loss in their rear view mirror on Saturday, pounding Poland 7-0 behind a four-goal effort by senior Alice Sanborn. Monica Couvillion scored and had two assists as the Lakers peppered the Poland cage with Knight goalie Aliyah Gregory recording 30 saves.

Kate Cutting and Abby Craffey each scored unassisted goals.

LR goalie Shannon Van Loan faced just three shots.

Against Falmouth Monday, Monica Couvillion scored 22 minutes into the second half as the Lakers tied Falmouth 1-1. The goal was set up by a crossing pass from Liz Schreiber. The Yachtsmen took a 1-0 lead two minutes into the game on a goal by Mikey Richards. After two overtime sessions, the teams settled for a tie.

“A great game to watch. Very exciting. Both teams played very well,” Coach Leland said.

Van Loan turned away 10 shots, including a couple of point blank drives to force overtime, while Falmouth netminder Hillary Nash recorded four saves.

• Fryeburg Academy dropped its first game of the season, a 1-0 loss Tuesday at Greely.

Up next: The Lakers travel to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, Sept. 13 for a 4 p.m. game.

The Raiders travel to York on Friday for a 4 p.m. game, and host Wells on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Greely on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m.

BOYS’ SOCCER

FA: Milos Mojokov scored two goals to lift the Raiders past Gray-New Gloucester last Friday at the Academy. Mojokov made a strong run down the left sideline, beat a Patriot defender and unloaded a shot to the far post for a 1-0 FA lead. He also scored in the second half.

FA pressured the Patriot net on several occasions. While the Raiders were quite aggressive throughout the contest, Captain Paul Kurnick also showed the team’s good sportsmanship side. As the Gray goalie dove, stretched for a loose ball and gained control, Kurnick pulled up rather than take a swipe at the ball.

Paul Dostie recorded three saves for FA.

LR: Freeport dominated at home, blanking the Lakers 7-0.

The Lakers finally got on the board Tuesday at home against Falmouth as Mike Mageles found the back of the net. Unfortunately, Falmouth’s offense was too high powered for the Lakers to contend with as the Yachtsmen sailed to a 14-1 victory.

LR goalie Dakota Bush turned away 20 shots.

Up next: Fryeburg Academy travels to Greely Saturday for a noon game (JV at 10:30 a.m.). The Raiders host Poland on Monday, Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. and travel to Yarmouth Wednesday, Sept. 14 for a 6 p.m. contest.

Lake Region travels to Gray-New Gloucester on Monday, Sept. 12 for a 6 p.m. game and head to Poland on Wednesday, Sept. 14 for a 6 p.m. contest.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

LR: Down at the half, Lake Region rallied behind goals from Sydney Hancock (a header off a direct kick by Aly Kepler) and Jacqui Black to nip Freeport 3-2 last Friday in Naples. Theresa Butler scored in the first half.

“Emily Bartlett made numerous key saves including a heart-stopping save off a corner kick in the final minute of play,” LR Coach Lynne Harrison said. “Rachel Wandishin kept up the offensive attack late in the game to produce quality scoring opportunities.”

Against Falmouth on Tuesday, the Lakers were blanked 9-0. Goalie Emily Bartlett was busy, turning away 17 shots.

FA: Carla Tripp scored a first half goal as the Raiders settled for a 1-1 tie at Gray-New Gloucester. Senior goalie Maggie McConkey logged 18 saves.

Up next: Fryeburg Academy hosts Lake Region today, Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. The Raiders travel to Poland on Monday for a 6 p.m. game and host Yarmouth on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m.

Lake Region hosts Gray-New Gloucester Monday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. and Poland on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m., both games on the Art Kilborn Athletic Field.

CROSS COUNTRY

FA: Logan Gerchman placed seventh in 18:31 in a field of 50 runners to lead the Fryeburg Academy cross-country team at Cumberland. Boothbay Region’s Chase Brown set the winning pace at 17:03. FA was fourth in the five-school meet.

TJ Rose ran a 20:14 to finish in 14th place followed by: 16. Jonathan Burk in 20:23; 21. Liuke Yang 21:18; 28. Tyler O’Keefe 22:05; 37. Liam Leconey 22:35; 38. David Fulton 22:56; 39. Eric Hannes 23:03; 45. Sullivan Briggs 23:36; 57. Andrew Emery 26:44; 58. David Powers 26:46.

Lead runner Silas Eastman was a scratch with a “sliced big toe,” reported FA Coach Bill Reilly.

“Logan really stepped up to the plate. Our two, three and four runners are freshmen. I call them the ‘3 Amigos.’ With the exception of Fulton, O’Keefe and Gerchman, it was a first varsity race for all others,” Coach Reilly said. “This team wants to train hard and their future is unlimited.”

Corinn Bedell posted the fastest time for the FA girls with a 23:02 to take eighth place. Greely’s Kirstin Sandreuter won the race in 19:38 as the Rangers and Merriconeag tied for first with 31 points. FA was third with 74 points.

Other FA finishers: 11. Elizabeth Grzyb 23:53; 13. Laura Pulito 24:19; 35. Meghan Costello 31:16; 40. Daniele DeLucco 36:52.

“Corinn really hammered it,” Coach Reilly said. “Elizabeth and Laura ran well, and freshman Daniele DeLucco (in her first varsity race) ran with a sprained ankle. The girls are tough!”

LR: Captain TJ Leach posted a time of 19:01 for 16th place over a “very hard three-mile course” to lead the Lake Region boys at Falmouth. Winning time was 16:54 by Tim Follo of Falmouth.

Other LR finishers: 21. Mark MacDougall 19:11; 53. Mason Kluge-Edwards 21:37; 63. Kyle DeSouza 23:00; 71. James McCann 23:21; 76. Adam Butler 23:26; 77. Lucien Sulloway 23:26; 80. Colin Bridge-Koenigsberg 23:51; 100. Nick Hall 28:00; 107. Kevin Flanagin 30:54.

“I am very happy with the progress of the boys’ team,” Coach Dan Dors said.

Maude Meeker checked in at 17th with a time of 25:14 as the Laker girls finished fourth. Winning time was 22:00 by Heather Evans of York.

Other LR finishers: 23. Briana Gallinari 25:57; 24. Savannah DeVoe 25:59; 26. Kari Eldridge 26:15; 37. Maggie Knudsen 27:39; 53. Julia Carlson 31:26; 57. Leanne Kugelman 32:44.

Both Laker squads were in fourth place.

“The final team scores don’t show how well the kids ran. We had good times against the Top 2 teams in Western B,” Coach Dors said. “

Up next: Fryeburg Academy hosts Sacopee Valley, Yarmouth and York this Friday, Sept. 9 with the girls running first at 4:30 p.m. followed by the boys at 5 p.m.

Lake Region travels to Freeport on Saturday for an 11 a.m. meet.

LR Homecoming Fun Run will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the high school. A walk along the course will be held at 9 a.m. The Fun Run benefits the Lake Region cross-country team. LRHS students who participate earn Homecoming points for their respective class. The registration fee is $15 with additional family members costing $10.

GOLF

At Bridgton Highlands last Thursday, Freeport came away with wins over Fryeburg (5-2) and Lake Region (5-2).

The Raiders downed the Lakers 4.5-2.5.

In medal play, Ryan Chute of Lake Region defeated Paul Drew of Fryeburg 50-51; Tristan Drew (FA) defeated Brandon Silvia (LR) 64-70; Jeremy Black (LR) defeated Andy Berg (FA) 64-64; Brad Kim (FA) defeated Brown (LR) 56-71; Patrick Hayes (LR) defeated Ben Bailey (FA) 63-65; and Cody Smith (FA) defeated Evan Kellough (LR)) 63-65.

Team Medal: Fryeburg, 234-248.

LR winners against Freeport were: Patrick Hayes, 63-64, and Evan Kellough, 65-66.

FA winners against Freeport were: Brad Kim 56-62, and Cody Smith, 63-66.