Tough start for Lady Cougars

DIXFIELD -- If it wasn't for bad luck, the Dirigo girls’ soccer team would have no luck at all.

The results of the first three games have been a hard pill to swallow for the Lady Cougars.

That includes the latter because after having maintained control for a majority of the action, Dirigo players walked away completely frustrated following a 1-0 loss to Saint Dominics.

Forwards Natalie Bolduc, Lindsy Crutchfield and freshman Sabrina Daoud each had quality shots on goal at Harlow Park. The Cougars had beaten the Saints during the regular season, but then lost to the same team in a semifinal playoff game last fall.

“Yes, it's frustrating,” said Dirigo coach Art Chamberlin. “But you cannot take anything away about how the girls played. They had plenty of chances, especially in the first half, but was not able to finish them off.”

The season started out right, with Bolduc scoring a hat trick in a convincing 5-0 season-opening win at Boothbay; also three goals in an overtime loss at Monmouth.

Against the Saints, Dirigo had maintained offensive pressure and Bolduc beat the defense, three times. Daoud was set up by Bolduc, but SD goalie Kelly Pomerleau (11 saves) cradled the shot.

"I was very please with the way the girls played in the first half," said Chamberlin. "We played a different defense and a different line up in the middle to match up with St. Doms. We knew that they would pressure our midfield and Megan (Bradbury), Destiny (Newton),

Michelle (Morrison), Mackenzie (Lord), and Sabrina limited their runs through the middle very well."

The defense was solid with Kayla Gaudin who played at sweeper for the first-time, Ambyr Wlson (thigh injury), Gretchen Bradbury (B), Bryce Parent and Sam Morse (B). Dirigo goalie Natasha Deroche (five saves) to keep the shutout going, but Kayla McLellan scored off a pass from Emily Poulin with 6:04 left to play.

Dirigo had a 16-7 advantage in shots.

“Even though their defense tried to smother Natalie we still had several good chances,” said Chamberlin. “Two one-goal losses, one in two OT's and one with six minutes on the clock sting pretty bad. I'm confident that we will continue to improve and be a team that nobody wants to face in playoffs."