The Penobscot Valley High School girls soccer team from Howland is seeking a third consecutive state Class D championship this season.
And the group will have four All-Class D North and All-Penobscot Valley Conference Class C-D players to headline a quality nucleus of returnees.
“We have all the pieces to win another championship. We have to stay healthy, stay hungry and stay together,” said head coach Jeremy Durost.
The Howlers enter this season having gone 34-2 over the past two seasons and they opened the campaign with an 11-0 win over Schenck/Stearns.
Senior striker Rylee Moulton scored six goals in the opener to move into second place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 89 goals, 35 behind Lexi Ireland’s 124.
She also has 28 career assists.
“Rylee is one of those players who just has a knack for scoring,” said Durost, who pointed out that Moulton started her career as a defender when she saw varsity time as an eighth grader.
She switched to striker her freshman year and “took off from there,” according to her coach.
“She is aggressive, has quick feet and has that determination that when she has the ball in the final third, she is looking to score,” added Durost.
Senior attacking midfielder Lila Cummings had three goals to boost her career total to 76. In addition, she has 60 career assists.
“Lila is our everything. Everything goes through her. She is our spine,” Durost said. “If we need to hold a lead, she will sit back and be a holding mid. She makes great decisions and she’s tough. She takes a beating but keeps on working.”
Moulton and Cummings scored the goals in last season’s 2-0 win over Buckfield in the state championship game.
In addition to being chosen All-Class D North and All-PVC C-D, they were also selected to the All-North team for players from all four classes.
Cummings is a two-time PVC Player of the Year and was the Maine Coaches’ State Class D Player of the Year last season.
Senior holding midfielder Lauren Veino was an All-North 8-Player Regional selection and All-PVC 8-Player choice for Penquis High School in Milo last year. She has returned to Penobscot Valley, where she spent her first two seasons.
“She can play anywhere. When [defender] Eve McNally suffered a concussion, we moved her from midfield to the back line for our playoff run when we won our first state title,” said Durost.
The other Class D North and All-PVC C-D pick was junior goalkeeper Brooklynn Raymond, who has posted shutouts in both state title games.
PVHS beat St. Dom’s of Auburn 1-0 in the 2023 final.
“She didn’t start playing goalie until her freshman year. We had that need,” said Durost. “Her coordination is off the charts. And she’s strong.”
Sophomore Charlotte Brochu was a starter in the midfield a year ago and is moving up to a wing slot. The other wing will be senior Parker Theriault.
Theriault didn’t play last year after playing her first two years.
Savannah Durost, the coach’s daughter, returns for her third year as a starter as an outside midfielder. She will be the right mid.
Sophomore Abby Castonguay will be the left midfielder.
Four-year starter McNally will be the center back with junior Baileigh Leet at left back and junior Abby Farley at right back.
Three other experienced Howlers who will see significant minutes will be sophomore striker Nicole Solomon, junior defender Emma-Leigh Mailman and senior midfielder Addy Lyons.
Durost said he also has a lot of talented freshmen and eighth graders who will compete for varsity playing time.
Penobscot Valley plays Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy on Tuesday night.
