Game Recap’s 2012 Bridgton Academy Soccer
Sept, 7th 2012
A beautiful fall afternoon on September 7th 2012 saw the Bridgton Academy boys varsity soccer team
finally having the opportunity to open their much anticipated campaign under new head coach Adam
Perron against the Bowdoin College JV team. The game was a back and forth affair in the first half as
both teams struggled to maintain possession. For the Wolverines of Bridgton, it was the first true 11
v 11 game the boys have seen and the rust was apparent early as they had to get used to playing with
each other against an organized and slightly bigger opponent.
As the game went on, BA’s chances increased as both wingers Pedro Lucas Ferreira and Fabricio Kuhnen
were working hard on the flanks delivering dangerous service and thru ball passes in trying to send our
alternating target forward combo of Rudy Mukania and Mike Kelley through on breakaways yet the
Bowdoin defense held strong. Also playing well in the midfield was Salem, Massachusetts own Brion
Likaj as he had numerous dangerous passes through the Polar Bear defense to Ferreira only to see them
blown back by questionable calls from the referee. Nonetheless, we missed a few chances as a team
while Bowdoin put together a few good chances of their own. For the most part, the back four did a
great job denying a great Bowdoin transition from putting numbers on the board led by center backs
Max Senechal and Doug Lyons, with outside backs Brian Ducharme and Ryan Lambert also putting in
solid efforts. Not to be forgotten on the day was former Class B state player of the year goalkeeper Ian
Cushing who put together a solid effort in goal throughout the afternoon.
The second half saw the action heat up as the field began to get stretched out due to fatigue from both
teams. The first costly mistake of the afternoon came from the Polar Bear defense as a lazy pass out of
the back was picked off by Likaj as he ended up in on a 1 v 1 breakaway with the goalkeeper and lofted
a nicely chipped ball up and over him which nestled into the corner of the goal. 1-0 Bridgton Academy.
This deficit did not deter the Polar Bears as they came furiously back launching a few dangerous counter
attacks, some thwarted by stalwart Defensive mid Kevin Leite before he left the game with an injury
while one counter attack forced Cushing into a big first save, followed by a ring off the post rebound,
then followed by a Lambert clear off the line on a third rebound. Needless to say we escaped that play
and shored up the defense and came away with a 1-0 victory and our first win of the season. 1 and 0.
Next game is against Bates College on Sunday Afternoon.
Sept 9th 2012
After a great opening season result against the Bowdoin College Polar Bear JV’s, the Bridgton
Wolverines hit the road for the first game of a lengthy road trip, first stop of the week being the Bates
Bobcats. Another perfect day in the state of Maine saw the Wolverines matched up against a much
better and more organized opponent yet the boys were up for the task on the day. The start of the
game saw again a see saw affair in which both teams were trying to figure each other out. Bridgton
Academy had made a few lineup/formation changes due to the injury of Kevin Leite from Friday’s game
moving Chevrus High School product Nick Melville to Defensive Center Mid which made a big difference
in the balance of play. Nick played a strong midfield and proved to be a nuisance for the bobcats with
his possession oriented play and work rate. Still the Nescac side held a good amount of the play in
the first half until substitute Conor Daley came in for the Wolverines and helped change the rest of
the match within the first 20 minutes. Creating some havoc among the Bates midfielders, he forced a
bad pass which was picked off by Ryan Lambert, who then found a great run by Fabrico Kuhnen (set
up by a decoy run from Pedro Lucas Ferreira)and Kuhnen did the rest coolly dribbling past the beaten
goalkeeper and slotting the ball home, 1-0 BA on Kuhnens first goal of the year.
Bridgton did not look back from this first goal, as they quickly put on a second tally ten minutes later
when Fabricio Kuhnen again found the ball on the flank and, after beating a Bates defender 1 v 1,
crossed the ball into the box for an on coming Pedro Lucas who beat the goaltender to the low right
corner for a 2-0 lead going into halftime. Going into the second half, the Wolverines made some slight
formational adjustments with the lead but still put together some impressive goal scoring opportunities.
Arguably the best goal of the early season came off a great defensive steal in the midfield which started
a quick breakout, the ball was pumped forward to the feet of Brion Likaj who sped down the right flank
only to hold it up and keep possession, waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Three passes later the ball
arrived right back to his dangerous left foot allowing him to make a beautiful cross to the back post
finding big man Mike Kelley to head it in on the back post for his first goal of the season. 3-0 Bridgton
Academy.
That was all the scoring that was needed as the defense put together another strong effort led by center
back Max Senechal and Captain Ian Cushing as they held another opponent to a 0 while allowing only 7
shots (Ian had 6 saves and controlled the box very well on the service). BA pushed their record to 2-0 on
the young season with the win.
Bridgton will get a short two days of practice and recovery before stepping on the field again
Wednesday at Belmont Hill School in Boston, MA. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 pm as the Wolverines look to
keep their opening streak alive.
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