The defending state Class A champion Bangor High School girls soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to 22 games on Tuesday night and its defense has continued to shine.
The Brunswick High School Dragons frustrated the Rams with a well-organized and efficient defensive performance. But the Rams received a goal from senior attacking midfielder Clara Oldenburg with 16:38 left in the first half and limited Brunswick to four shot attempts en route to a 1-0 victory at Cameron Stadium.
Bangor is now 6-0-1 on the season and 21-0-1 dating back to a 3-0 loss to Camden Hills in Rockport on Sept. 13, 2024.
The Rams have allowed only 11 goals during their 22-game unbeaten streak.
“They’re pretty solid in the back. It’s tough to get by them,” said Brunswick coach Kevin Bachman.
Bangor’s back line features senior Sophia Chase and junior Jo Jo Clukey as the center backs, senior Avery Clark at right back, and juniors Gabby Spreng and Ainsley Goodwin sharing the left back slot.
Clark and Clukey were Maine Soccer Coaches Association All-Class A North Regional selections last season.
“We play defense all over the field, that’s the premise of how we play,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “We have such good speed in the back. And they take great angles. They know how to seal off the offensive players from the ball.”
Chase finished third in the 100 meter hurdles and fifth in the 300 meter hurdles for the Rams’ Class A outdoor track state champions.
“Speed is one of our top advantages in the back,” Chase said. “Our communication and our rotations are really good.”
Clukey said their speed allows the backs to be attack-minded.
“We trust if we step up but can’t get the ball, the person behind us has that speed to make up for it. That allows us to attack,” said Clukey. “We’re big on communication. We work really well together.”
Chase’s speed was in evidence on Tuesday night as she sprinted to chase down Brunswick standout striker Molly Tefft, who appeared as though she was going to break in alone on Bangor goalkeeper Emily Caulkins.
Tefft was never able to get her shot off.
The game’s lone goal came off a long-distance shot from Oldenburg after she received a pass from Gabby Gordon 30 yards from the goal.
“Gabby gave me a great ball from the left side. I took a touch and hit it,” said 2024 All North Regional A selection Oldenburg, whose goal was her 11th of the season. “I was just looking to hit it because we hadn’t really tested their goalie much.”
Brunswick goalie Gillian Countway jumped but the perfectly-placed shot sailed over her hands and just under the crossbar.
“I thought it was going to be a little high but it wound up lofting pretty well,” Oldenburg added.
Backman called it “a heckuva’ shot.”
Oldenburg and sophomore Georgie Stephenson nearly extended the lead in the last three minutes of the first half but Countway got a piece of Oldenburg’s powerful shot before it glanced off the post. Stephenson then hit the near side post from 16 yards out.
Countway made a number of good saves in the second half to keep her team within striking distance but the Dragons couldn’t break through against Caulkins and the Ram back line.
Caulkins finished with three saves on four shot attempts, all in the second half.
Countway came up with seven stops on 19 Ram shot attempts.
“It was a good, well-played soccer game,” said Kemble. “It was relatively physical but not badly physical. Both teams possessed the ball, moved the ball and got quality shots.”
Bachman called it the best game his Dragons have played all season. Brunswick is now 3-4 and
Has lost three in a row.
“I liked our intensity. We moved the ball around and passed very well. I was very proud of them,” Bachman added. “Bangor is fast, physical and highly-skilled.”
Senior backs Solveig Ledwick and Hazel Bachman turned in stellar performances for Brunswick, whose offsides trap worked very effectively.
Oldenburg, Kyelin Atherley and Gordon did an excellent job controlling the midfield for Bangor and Gabby Roy was also influential.
Bangor hosts Edward Little of Auburn at 6 p.m. Thursday while Brunswick visits Edward Little at 6 p.m. Saturday.
