Last year’s boys soccer season ended in heartbreak for the Fort Fairfield Tigers, as they lost the Class D state championship in the final 30 seconds.
Locked in a second straight close championship battle on Saturday, the Tigers wouldn’t let history repeat itself.
With the game tied 1-1 late against Monmouth, senior Cayden Ala gave Fort Fairfield the boost it needed.
Tigers top scorer Ala took a through ball and buried it in the 69th minute to put Fort Fairfield up 2-1. And the small army of fans that made the trip from Aroostook County erupted with joy.
That would prove to be the game winning goal, with the Tigers holding on to win 2-1.
“This is huge. Our community is a soccer community, for sure,” Ala said after the championship victory. “We take it almost religiously.”
Monmouth sophomore forward Bryce Fletcher opened the scoring in the 20th minute of the game. Fort Fairfield answered later in the half on a goal from junior Lucas Cormier. Fellow junior Vincent Heibel set that score up with a dive drive and pass for the assist.
A huge sliding save by Monmouth keeper Lewis Lamoreau kept the game tied with 12 minutes left in the second half, but Ala broke through for the game winner not long after.
Ala’s father, John Ala, also led the Tigers to their only other state title 10 years ago. Cayden Ala has always wanted to add to that legacy, and now he has.
“It was a dream, it’s a lifelong dream. And as soon as I scored that second one, I knew I was this much closer to getting my dream,” Cayden Ala said. “Ever since I was born, my dad has been coaching this team. And I’ve always wanted to win a state championship with him.”
The championship heroics were especially sweet for the Tigers on Saturday at Hermon High School because of the heartbreaking way last year ended, with Richmond getting the game-winner in the last 30 seconds of that previous state title matchup.
“Ever since they scored that last goal in the last 30 seconds, this is where we’ve wanted to be,” Cayden Ala said.
He noted that the Tigers team put in the work during practice every day to get to this point.
“This is all we’ve wanted,” Ala said. “This is a dream come true for all of us.”
Ala said it felt good to get the game winner, but stressed it was a team effort that brought home the state title on Saturday.
