Dirigo boys settle for tie with Mt. Abram

DIXFIELD -- Prior to the game, Dirigo boys' soccer coach Jack Rioux expressed his concern about the impending matchup between Dirigo and Mount Abram and those remarks turned out to be well warranted.
A penalty kick by Chad Snowman late in the contest turned out to be the equalizer as the teams battled through 90 minutes, including two, five-minute overtimes before settling for a 1-1 tie under the lights at Harlow Park.
It was the finale home game for seniors Hunter Ross, T.J. Frost, Snowman, Leon Keim Trevor Newman and goalie Mike Chow; the action concluded a tripleheader at the facility.     
The game was highly competitive, with the action going back and forth, with each team generating scoring opportunities.
“Mount Abram is a very physical team,” said Dirigo coach Jack Rioux. "They like to mix it up with contact, but I think we are more skilled. Still, I'm glad we get to play them here.''
Dirigo, sporting pink arm bands to honor Breast Cancer Awareness in October, had beat the Roadrunners last month in Salem. In the rematch, the Cougars was on the offensive in the latter stages of the second half, but had been unable to solve Mount Abram goalie Tristan Dyer. A corner kick by Ross was snared and TJ Frost was setup by Snowman, but denied on the door step.
Moments later, Snowman was hauled down in the offensive box, resulting in a penalty shot. Snowman lifted a high shot toward the left corner that eluded Dyer's outstretched finger tips to tie the score with 8:27 left in regulation.
Dirigo's defense, with Aighdan Weisar, Jason Baldinelli, Randy Deroche, had had success clearing balls, allowing Brian Volkernick to kick long advances.
But Mount Abram's pressure paid dividends, with several boots on net. The momentum increased and Jay Chernard scored into the short side by Chow, who couldn't slide over in time, off a Noah Russo pass with 19:14 left in the game.
Chernard's later father, Bill, was a 1975 graduate of Rumford High School.