Islesboro falls to NYA in competitive Class D South final

OAKLAND — History was made at Messalonskee High School on Tuesday night, Nov. 2 as top-ranked Islesboro — a coed team playing in the boys division — squared off with No. 3 North Yarmouth Academy for the Class D South championship.

Despite the teams’ seeds, it was considered a David-and-Goliath-type battle, with Islesboro a blue-collar kindergarten through 12th-grade Penobscot Bay island school with an enrollment of 86 students and NYA, a private school where many of their athletes play soccer year-round.

Islesboro’s Jett Lindelof, left, and Reagan Field, as well as North Yarmouth Academy’s Cooper St. Hilaire (23) and Bryce Poulin. Photo by Ken Waltz

In a game that included sporadic rain showers and a chill in the air, the Panthers held a 1-0 lead through the majority of the contest before they pumped in a few well-timed insurance goals in the waning minutes.

In the end, it was NYA that emerged with the regional title after a decisive, 4-0 victory.

With the win, North Yarmouth Academy (11-4-2) advances to the state Class D championship game, where it will face No. 4 Wisdom of St. Agatha (16-2), the north champion, on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Gehrig Johnson Field at Presque Isle Middle School.

Islesboro’s Matt Britton, left, and North Yarmouth Academy’s Hans-Erik Jerosch. Photo by Ken Waltz

The Eagles, who defeated No. 9 Chop Point of Woolwich 7-0 in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Greenville 2-1 in the semifinals on consecutive days, saw its season conclude at 10-2.

NYA also beat No. 6 Buckfield 2-1 and No. 2 Richmond 2-1 previously in the playoffs.

The history made in Tuesday’s game was the first regional championship soccer appearance in Islesboro Central School history. And the Eagles brought hardware — a regional runner-up plaque — home to the island late in the night.

In the rain, Islesoboro’s Dylan Frank, front, and his huddled teammates on the bench. Photo by Ken Waltz

The only other regional championship appearance in the school’s history was in 1996, when the Eagle cross-country squad finished as runners-up in the Western Class D championship meet and went on to race to third in the state.

Team members for Islesboro, led by coach Rob McHugh, include Robert Conover, Owen Jagger, Charlie Jagger, Harper Conover, Brynn Ward, Julian Kelly, Sam Jagger, Reagan Field, Lake Lindelof, Dylan Frank, Rio Dubois, Toby Conover, Matt Britton, Jett Lindelof, Chase Cook, Ella Reichert-Vacher, Rosie Brimley, Shamus Dove, Logan Burns, Max Dubois, Blake Zlotkowski, Eion Kehoe, Nathan Waldron, Abby Leach, Alma Bewsher and Gabe Holmes.

Team members for NYA, led by coach Matt Williams, include Noah Silander, James Crowley, Elias Eisenberg, Jack Byrne, Aiden Hagar, Theo Falgren, Matt Powers, Daxton St. Hilaire, Wyatt Thomas, Chas Rohde, Seamus Rohde, Justin Corporan, Cole Lamert, Cooper St. Hilaire, Brayden Warde, Bryce Poulin, Logan Welch, Colin Roderick, Bryce Bernier, Caleb Waterman, Jesse Mutogoma, Noah Cannon, Alex Wignall, Michael Belleau, Ethan Brochu, Hans-Erik Jerosch and Chad Beaufils.

Chas Rohde netted two goals for NYA, while Brochu and Falgren added one.

While the Panthers got the victory and advanced to the state final, the game’s most valuable player could have been Robert Conover, Islesboro’s freshman netminder, who was busier than he had been this season against the Panthers.

Robert Conover single-handedly — or with both hands if necessary — kept the Eagles within striking distance for much of the 80-minute contest and turned away 26 shots, many of which were on high-quality NYA attempts.

Belleau earned the shutout in net for the Panthers.

“We came into this knowing it was going to be a tough game,” said McHugh. “I’m really proud of all of our players. They played with absolute heart.”

Islesboro’s Matt Britton, (13), Nathan Waldron (24) and Chase Cook (15), along with North Yarmouth Academy’s Wyatt Thomas (12) and Noah Silander. Photo by Ken Waltz

Robert Conover added, “We didn’t play to feet as much. We were much more direct. And I think that’s why we didn’t get as many shots. Their defense was really strong.”

NYA held a 1-0 lead at halftime as its score came on the one defensive miscue Islesboro committed during the game’s first 40 minutes.

Islesboro’s Sam Jagger (7) and Jett Lindelof. Photo by Ken Waltz

A Panther midfielder put a through ball up the right side through traffic that bounded between a trio of Eagle defenders and Robert Conover. Before any of the four Eagles could converge, Brochu got in the midst of the group and popped the ball into the net a mere 3:16 into the contest.

“It was a lot of miscommunication,” said Robert Conover on NYA’s first goal. “And the opposing team just got through and capitalized on the moment.”

“There was one lapse in the first half and that really put us in a tough spot,” said McHugh. “We came into the second half still just down one goal and we didn’t give up.”

Islesboro’s Reagan Field, left, as well as North Yarmouth Academy’s Cooper St. Hilaire, back, and Wyatt Thomas. Photo by Ken Waltz

Lake Lindelof, the team’s center back, also had a strong defensive play when he tied up forward Jack Byrne on a strong through ball up the middle, which likely saved a NYA goal with 25 minutes to go in the first half.

While defensively the Eagles hung tough, ICS could not generate consistent offense against NYA and had only one quality chance on goal late in the second half with the outcome decided.

Islesoboro’s Lake Lindelof and his teammates present their plaque to Eagle fans. Photo by Ken Waltz

NYA increased its lead to 2-0 with 22:04 to play when Chas Rohde created separation with a strong individual effort and peppered a shot at Robert Conover that clanged off his mitts, but the ball bounded over the line.

Chas Rohde added his second score — which put the game out of reach — with 18:18 left on a goal that largely resembled Brochu’s first-half goal, while Falgren added a goal with 10:47 to play.

The Eagles also were down two starters after both players got double yellow cards in their previous playoff against Greenville, which equates to a red card, which, in turn, made them ineligible for Tuesday’s game.

Islesboro also played down a player for the final five minutes of the championship game after a red card was issued.

Islesboro Central School, 2021 Class D South soccer tournament runners-up. Photo by Ken Waltz

However, the Eagles were more than happy to bring home hardware from their deep regional playoff run and said their goal is to return to the regional final next year.

“It’s great for the community,” McHugh said. “It’s great for our school, it’s great for our program. I think this really is going to propel us into a more competitive environment moving forward.”