Max Fitch just started his sophomore season for the Mattanawcook Academy boys soccer team, and he’s already the school’s career leader for goals.
The 16-year-old forward set that school record in spectacular fashion Thursday night in his team’s opening game against Dexter High School.
Fitch scored all six goals for the Lynx in that 6-2 victory. But he was quick to give credit to his teammates Friday.
“I was able to accomplish that with my two other forwards, Landon Landry and Gabe Lazore,” Fitch told the Bangor Daily News. “They were really able to help me feed the ball up front where I could get the opportunities to take my shots.”
Most of those six goals ended up being Fitch one-on-one with the Dexter goalkeeper, he said. On the couple of contested goals, he credited Mattanawcook’s midfielders for providing good passes up the middle.
“I just had to take one touch in, and it was right there to the far corner.” Fitch said.
The six-goal effort to start the season propels Fitch to 40 goals in his young high school career, already good enough for the school’s career scoring record.
The previous record of 39 belonged to Riley Coburn, according to a Facebook post by the Mattanawcook athletic department.
“Max had great help from his teammates tonight, as the communication and ball movement amongst the boys was essential to their success,” the department said in that post.
Fitch was excited to set the new record after already coming close in his freshman year.
“Working toward it last year and being able to finish it off first game of the year, it was pretty exciting,” he said.
He said one of the keys for him as a scorer is the ability to get off a quick one-touch shot and put the ball in the corners.
Both Fitch and the athletic department also credited Mattanawcook Xandir Springer for stopping 18 shots in his varsity debut in goal.
“Our keeper Xandir did insanely well last night,” Fitch said.
Fitch would like to play soccer at the collegiate level down the road, but for now is focusing on one game at a time.
“We’re a younger team, but we work really well together,” he said.
