At Deering High School in Portland on Saturday, the PVHS girls soccer team magical unbeaten season came to an end at the hands of North Yarmouth Academy in the State Championship 8-0. NYA secured their fourth straight gold ball, and outscored their opponents in the playoffs by a monstrous 38-1 margin. Penobscot Valley had a few close opportunities for goals, but just couldn’t finish off the shots.
Regardless, it was an amazing season for the Lady Howlers as they came into the season replacing six starters from their 2021 regional runner-up team. They earned the number one seed in Class D North finishing the regular season 13-0-1, and went 16-1-1 overall. PVHS will be losing two extremely important seniors from this years squad, in Holly and Kaya Loring. Both were leaders on the team, captains, first team All-PVC selections, as well as selected to the All-Regional Class D North team, so there will be a huge void to fill from these two young ladies in 2023. Holly finished the season with nine goals and a team-high (tied) 14 assists splitting time between forward and midfield, while Kaya notched seven goals and five assists from a defensive holding-mid position.
Penobscot Valley potentially returns 15 players from this years squad, and also should have a key piece returning in tri-captain Mia Neal, who missed the entire 2022 season due to off-season surgery. Mia was a starter as a sophomore, and played a key role in the Howler’s run to the Northern Maine Championship last year.
Other non-seniors on the roster include: Juniors Brooke Champion, Aubrey Dionne, Harlee Glidden, Emma Potter (PVC honorable mention), and Ashlyn St. Cyr; Sophomores Ellie Austin (1st team PVC), Allie LeBlanc, and Shay Ireland; and Freshmen Lila Cummings (All-Regional, 1st team PVC, and PVC Player of the Year), Savannah Durost, Addy Lyons, Eve McNally, Rylee Moulton, Lauryn Smart, and Lauren Veino. Senior MacKenzie Michaud (videographer) and junior Emerson Lindsay (manager) round out the teams personnel.
Despite the two key losses for next year, the coaches and returning players are excited for the challenge of competing for a championship again next year. The eligible players that are expected back for 2023, combined for 85 goals and 55 assists this year.
