The Bangor High School girls soccer team underwent significant changes in the offseason.
It graduated four all-conference players and gained a new head coach in Jay Kemble. But the Rams haven’t missed a beat and have already won more regular season games than they did a year ago.
Bangor is 10-0 entering a Friday home game with Skowhegan after going 9-1-4 a year ago.
Kemble’s leadership has emerged as a positive force for the team, which is seeking its first regional title since winning the state crown in 2015. Kemble also coaches the Bangor girls basketball team and last fall headed the field hockey team.
“He’s great,” said senior center back Mimi Quinn. You’d be surprised how much time he puts in outside of practices and games to help us get ready [for the next game].”
“He told us he watched nine of our 10 games yesterday,” added junior midfielder Teagen Atherley, the team’s leading goal scorer, on Wednesday afternoon. “That’s commitment you don’t see in a lot of places. It’s great he’s helping us out this year.”
Atherley also said Kemble has brought a “new perspective” to the team.
“He has been really open to hearing our feedback which is really helpful. Everybody feels comfortable being able to talk to him,” Atherley said.
Kemble said he has a special group of players who understand the game and have been well-coached.
“What has really been a plus for us is their ability to hang in there and support each other. They are all tenacious competitors who compete for the whole 80 minutes,” said the Farmington native and former University of Maine relief pitcher. “They understand their roles and are willing to do what’s necessary to win.”
The team chemistry has greatly improved compared with last year, Athlerley said, with players having a better attitude and the team having a better environment overall.
“We connect more off the field and that has helped us connect on the field and that’s really important,” she said.
Kemble said he has depth and speed in every position, and Quinn believes that depth is paying dividends. Athletes are competing for playing time in practice every day.
“Our intensity in our practices is so high. We’re among our best competition in practice and that really helps in the games as well,” Quinn said.
The integration of several first-year starters — including junior back JayLynn Williams, sophomore striker-midfielder Clara Oldenburg, sophomore defender Avery Clark and freshman defender Jo Jo Clukey — has also been beneficial, according to Quinn.
“They have helped exponentially with the speed and energy they bring to the field,” Quinn said.
The Rams have scored 51 goals and allowed just six. They have noteworthy wins over Camden Hills of Rockport (3-0), which knocked Bangor out of the A North semifinals a year ago, a 4-1 win over Oxford Hills of South Paris squad and a 2-0 victory against Mt. Ararat of Topsham.
Atherley’s 16 goals tops the team, with Oldenburg’s 13 good enough for second.
“Teagan brings aggression and intensity onto the field and that makes everyone play up to their potential,” Quinn said. “And Clara has been huge. She is always aggressive and her scoring has obviously helped.”
The return to health of senior midfielder Ani Roberts after two injury-marred seasons has also been a big plus, Quinn said: “A lot of us play with her in the offseason as well. She is the last puzzle piece. She brings the whole team together.”
Senior midfielder Olivia Scott has eight goals and senior forward Kelsey Kull has three. Sophomore forward-midfielder Madison McLean and freshman midfielder Kyelin Atherley, Teagan’s sister, each have two and seven other players have one apiece.
Teagan Atherley said she doesn’t keep track of her number of goals because “it’s not important to me. I just want to be as influential and impactful on and off the field at all times.”
Kemble said the team has to reduce the breakdowns in the back, but added that as his young backs have gained experience they have improved.
The Rams have four games remaining, including one at Brunswick, which beat Bangor 2-1 in overtime in the Class A regional final.
