Class D boys soccer semifinal- PVHS 4 Woodland 1
At Howland, the visiting Dragons and the Howlers met in the playoffs for the second straight year. Last year in the quarter finals, PVHS stormed back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to win 4-1. On Friday afternoon, Penobscot Valley scored within the first nine minutes. Alex Tash received the ball at midfield, and quickly sent the ball up the right flank to senior Brad McKechnie. McKechnie raced past the defender toward the end line, and sent a low liner across the 6 yard line toward Grant Kidon. After a deflection, Kidon calmly collected the ball and put it past Woodland keeper Alex Morrison. The game was very physical, and the score remained 1-0 into the half.
In the second half, Kidon struck again within the first four minutes. Once again, he took a beautiful lead pass from McKechnie, and ended up going one on one with the keeper, and finished his shot in the left side of the net. Kidon finished off his hat trick with 3 minutes left in the game, as he weaved through multiple defenders and scored in the right corner.
PVHS extended their winning streak to 14 games, and notched their 7th shutout in the previous 8 games. Defenders Reece Carter, Bryce Seeley, Bradon Blish, Xander Hayes, and William Brown continue to make it extremely difficult for opposing scorers. Goalie Elijah Wood saved 6 of the 9 shots that he faced. Penobscot Valley will face Central Aroostook in the Northern Maine Championship next week, in a rematch of last year’s Semi-Final game (won by CA 2-1). Alex Morrison stopped 10 of 26 shots for Woodland, who finish their season at 15-2.
