At Hampden, the top seeded Penobscot Valley Howlers faced the #4 Madawaska Owls in a Northern Maine Regional semi-final, for the third season in a row. The third time proved to be a charm for PVHS as the Howlers won 2-1, moving on to the Regional Final for the first time in three years.
The teams proved to be very evenly matched, battling scoreless through 40 minutes. Madawaska had the 7-3 shot advantage through the first half, ringing one off the post. Penobscot Valley stuck to their game plan of playing a defensive formation, focusing on the two offensive Madawaska standouts in Jenna Dugal and Hannah Nadeau. Ryley Buck had PVHS’s best chance of the first half when she launched a high floating shot from 35 yards out, that nearly got by the Owls keeper.
The second half began in much the same fashion, as each side exchange counter attacks. PVHS began to push their line up a little higher, getting themselves more time in the offensive end. With 23 minutes remaining in the contest, Buck received a pass to the right flank, where she got past her defender and played a pass towards the near post. Judy King perfectly executed a diagonal run, cutting across her defender to one-time the ball past the approaching Madawaska keeper. A Lauren Reed injury with 12 minutes to play, required her to come off the field, forcing PVHS to reassign the duty of marking Madawaska’s Dugal. Dugal was able to push past her defender just enough a minute later, and fire a left footed shot into goal. PVHS showed their focus and determination by not collapsing under the momentum shift. With seven minutes to play, Howler Leine McKechnie took a free kick, which was cleared right back to her. McKechnie lofted the rebound right back at goal, with a ball that gave the goal keeper trouble, as she tried to clear it. PV’s Lexi Ireland was able to follow the clearance and redirect the ball to the back of the net. The Howlers, who were solid on defense all day, were able to finish the game with strong clearances, and playing the ball to the corners. PVHS keeper Paige Thibodeau saved 5 of 14 shots, while Madawaska keeper Cassidy Beaulieu recorded 4 saves on 7 shots. Penobscot Valley awaits the winner of #2 Ashland vs #6 Bangor Christian.
