Wolverine Soccer

Soccer Finds Success at the MPS Showcase

2012-01-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

The soccer team traveled to Portland this past weekend to participate in the MPS showcase and found great success in front of multiple college coaches. The teams started off facing The New Hampshire Classics and won 4-0. After a short break, they took the field against Mass Premier Soccer and took away a 4-1 win. The last contest of the day saw great competition as the two undefeated teams took the field. Back and forth play created many scoring opportunities for both Bridgton and Maine Premier Soccer. At the end of the game, the two teams tied 1-1.

School Is Back In Session!

2012-01-12T10:03:00.001-08:00

Following a relaxing winter break, the students are back on campus and school is in full swing. The soccer team is hitting the books and the gym to prepare for the second semester. And of course, Mother Nature welcomed everyone back with a nice snow storm, which will make for some great after school skiing!

Eddie Demoya Named Co-Athlete of the Month!

2011-11-18T05:37:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Eddie Demoya (Salem, MA) who was named Co-Athlete of the Month for October! Demoya helped the team to finish with a 4-1 record down the stretch. Demoya tallied a goal in each of the final five games, 9 goals 7 assists in all. He finished the season with a total of 17 goals and 12 assists. Coach Ashenfelter nominated Demoya stating, "his unquestioned work rate is evident on the field and in his training sessions."

Congratulations!!

Soccer Overtakes Hebron

2011-11-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

The soccer team traveled to Hebron Academy this week for a make up game due to the snow storm earlier in the season. Bridgton scored early as Perter Ventola (Salem, NH) put the Wolverines on the board. Hebron also managed to tally a goal in the first half, resulting in a 1-1 tie going into the second. Bridgton didn't hold back as they scored three more unanswered goals in the second to pull ahead 4-1. While Bridgton let up in the last few seconds, Hebron was able to score one last goal, resulting in a final score of 4-2, Bridgton. Check back later for the full story!

BA Blanks Winchendon

2011-10-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

The soccer team had a long two week break to prepare for their home match up against The Winchendon School. The team’s hard work paid off as they shut out the Wapities 3-0 in what Coach Ashenfelter remarked was “One of our best performances to date.” To start off the game, Peter Ventola (Salem, NH) finished a feed from Eddie Demoya assisted (Salem, MA). Demoya then secured a 2-0 lead as he netted an unassisted goal with just over three minutes to go in the first half. The match up was a physical game and Winchendon was fighting for a comeback which led to some chippy plays on both sides of the field. Aidan Harrison (Medfield, MA) put away the insurance goal with 20 minutes left in the game for the 3-0 win.

Coach Ashenfelter was satisfied with the performance commenting afterwards “We played 90 minutes of soccer and did the things we practiced. We had a few cheap shots, but hopefully we will learn from this and let the scoreboard do the talking. We need to finish the game like professionals. We took another step forward this week, and we will use the experience for improvement.”

Up Next...

2011-10-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Wolverines have had a long break, but they are ready to get back on the field! Make sure to stop by campus this weekend as they host the Winchendon School on Saturday the 22nd at 1:00 P.M.!!

Soccer Holds Off Kents Hill

2011-10-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

The soccer team traveled to Kents Hill in hopes of keeping the momentum up from their win over SMCC. From the moment they stepped on the field, BA didn't let up. Peter Ventola (Salem, NH) and Will McGowan (Andover, MA) tallied the Wolverines first two goals of the game. Kents Hill put on past BA's goaltender, but Edwin Demoya (Salem, MA) netted two more for Bridgton to secure the 4-1 win.

The soccer team will have a long break before their next contest as they wait until Saturday the 22nd to host the Winchendon School at 1:00 P.M.

Soccer Shuts Out CMCC

2011-10-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Soccer team kept their momentum rolling as they traveled to Central Maine Community College on Wednesday and returned home with a big 6-0 win.

The game was close at the start with Luca Viscomi (Newton, MA) scoring in the first half to give BA a 1-0 lead. The play was back and forth, but BA managed to hold onto the lead. Bridgton hit the field after the half fired up and ready to go. Viscomi tallied two more goals for BA, giving the Wolverines a 3-0 lead. Eddie Demoya (Salem, MA) netted the next two goals, with Peter Ventola (Salem, NH) scoring the last goal of the game to secure the 6-0 win.

Coach Ashenfelter was happy with the outcome saying "it was a good day for Bridgton Soccer. Everyone contributed and played well, and we got our first shutout of the season. Now we will move forward and prepare for Kents Hill this weekend."

Up next the Wolverines will travel to Kents Hill to play this Saturday at 1:00 P.M.

Player Profile: Alexander Estupinan

2011-10-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

HOMETOWN: Manhattan, NY

HIGH SCHOOL: Pace High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was a hard working student

HEARD ABOUT BA: A college coach I was speaking with mentioned it

GOALS AT BA: I want to get into a DI school to play soccer

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: Bridgton pushes students to the limit so they can succeed

BEST THING ABOUT BA: The fact that the faculty and staff really care about the students

WORST THING ABOUT BA: The cold weather

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, Outing Club

OUTSIDE OF BA: I play soccer and video games

ROLE MODEL: My older brother

FAVORITE BOOK: Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

FAVORITE MOVIES: Fast Five

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Arsenal FC

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Ces Fabarces

FAVORITE MUSIC: Hip Hop and Salsa

FAVORITE MEAL: Steak

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Make each day your masterpiece” –John Wooden

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I really enjoy canoeing

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Take the opportunity to come here to better yourself!

Photos From Bowdoin J.V.

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to check out some photo's from the 3-2 win over Bowdoin J.V. last weekend!

BA Overtakes Bowdoin J.V.

2011-10-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

The soccer team battled through rain and mud as they took on Bowdoin College’s J.V. team. The two teams faced each other earlier in the week and settled with a 2-2 tie. This time, Bridgton was determined to take away the win. Bowdoin came out strong scoring first eighteen minutes into the game. Luca Viscomi (Newton, MA) finished a pass from Eddie Demoya (Salem, MA) late in the first half to tie things up. Just ten minutes later Will McGowan (Andover, MA) and Will Groves (Walpole, MA) connected as McGowan put away the go ahead goal. After a sloppy play by BA, Bowdoin was awarded a penalty kick, which tied up the game. Not wanting to give up, Demoya scored the game winning goal off a feed from Aidan Harrison (Medfield, MA) to secure the 3-2 win.

Coach Ashenflter was very proud of his team saying “we battled through adversity over and over again, showing great resilience and strong will to win.”

The team hopes to keep the momentum going as they travel to Central Maine Community College to play on Wednesday October 5^th at 3:30 P.M.

Late Goal Secures 3-2 Win Over Bowdoin J.V.

2011-10-01T14:07:00.001-07:00

The soccer team battled with Bowdoin College's J.V. team for two solid halves. When Bowdoin scored to tie it up 2-2, Bridgton fought even harder for the go ahead goal. With fifteen minutes left in the game, Bridgton scored to secure the 3-2 win. Check back later for the full recap and photos from the game!

Player Profile: Luca Viscomi

2011-09-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

HOMETOWN: Newton, MA

HIGH SCHOOL: Newton North High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was a jock

HEARD ABOUT BA: A soccer coach mentioned it to me

GOALS AT BA: I want to excel academically and athletically so I can be accepted into a great school

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: You have much more freedom and your days are very scheduled. And we have study hall which I never had in high school.

BEST THING ABOUT BA: The sports

WORST THING ABOUT BA: No girls

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, Yearbook Club, Tour Guide

OUTSIDE OF BA: I play soccer and hang out with friends

ROLE MODEL: Cristiano Ronaldo

FAVORITE BOOK: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

FAVORITE MOVIES: Law Abiding Citizen

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Real Madrid

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Cristiano Ronaldo

FAVORITE MUSIC: R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, Salsa

FAVORITE MEAL: Lasagna and Chicken Parm

FAVORITE QUOTE: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I spend three months in Italy every year

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Manage your time and take advantage of great opportunities

Parents' Weekend is Here!

2011-09-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

Finally, Parents' Weekend has arrived! The guys have been busy in the classroom and on the field, and it's time they show off their hard work! There is a lot going on this weekend, and it will be great fun!

Here is a link to a full schedule of events!

The soccer team has a big game this weekend as they take on Bowdoin College J.V. at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday in front of family and friends. We hope to see you all there!!

Bowdoin Holds BA to a Tie

2011-09-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

The soccer team took to the field against Bowdoin College’s J.V. team this past weekend and held the Polar Bears to a 2-2 game. Peter Ventola (Salem, NH) played a strong game for the Wolverine’s as he scored twice to keep Bridgton in the lead for most of the game. With only 90 seconds left in regulation play, Bowdoin was able to sneak in the tying goal. Bridgton had many opportunities to extend their lead, but as Coach Ashenfelter commented afterwards, “we could not quite capitalize on the goal scoring opportunities we did well to create.”

Up next, the soccer team will play at home against Bowdoin College for Parents Weekend. The game is scheduled for Saturday the 1st at 3:00 P.M. We hope to see everyone there!

Soccer Falls to Nobles and Greenough

2011-09-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Nobles faced a physical and technical team from Bridgton Academy today in Dedham. Bridgton carried play in the first fifteen minutes but Nobles forward Jordan Brown scored against the run of play to put Nobles up 1-0. Nobles' goalkeeper Tyler Zon made a spectacular save on a penalty kick midway through the first half and momentum shifted from that point on. Brown added two more goals and Oliver White also scored leading Nobles to a 4-0 victory.

Story courtesy of ISL Boys Soccer.

Thayer Slips Past Bridgton

2011-09-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

The soccer team took to the road to face Thayer Academy this past weekend. While they kept the score tied at 0-0 in the first half, Thayer was able to sneak two goals in the end of the game. Coach Ashenfelter was proud after the game saying, "the boys worked hard and fought until the end."

Up next the soccer team will head to Noble and Greenough School to play on Wednesday the 21st at 4:00 P.M.

Soccer Take To The Road

2011-09-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend when the team hit the road, they had their first loss of the season as Northfield Mount Hermon overtook the Wolverines 4-0. Although the team worked hard, Northfield proved to be the better team. Coach Ashenfelter stated after the game, “on that day they were simply better- better focused, organized, and more determined to get a result. We will learn from our mistakes and move forward.”

The team then traveled to Springfield, MA to take on the Pride of Springfield College. With little rest in between game, the Wolverines rebounded well with what Coach Ashenfelter felt was the team’s best 90 minute performance to date. On defense the team played together and enjoyed a lot of possession throughout the game. After the game Coach Ashenfelter mention it was “some unlucky breaks and a lack of the finishing touch prevented us from getting the game winner, but I am confident that the goals are just around the corner!”

With a 1-1-1 record, the Wolverine are practicing hard to prepare for their next matchup at the Belmont Hill School this Wednesday at 4:00 P.M.

Soccer Wins Home Opener!

2011-09-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

The soccer team took to the field for a rainy home opener and beat Southern Maine Community College 3-1. Although the field was soggy, the team was determined to play through it. They faced off against SMCC and play was back and forth for the first few minutes of the game. Eddie Demoya was able to dodge SMCC's defense and beat the goalie for the Wolverines first goal of the season. It didn't take long before Demoya added a second goal to put the Wolverines up 2-0. The poor conditions worked against Bridgton as a defender slipped pulling down an opposing SMCC player with him and awarding SMCC a penalty kick. They slipped the shot past BA goaltender Garrett Madden for their only point of the game. With the Wolverines fired up after the penalty kick, they came out hard in the second half and secured the win with one last goal from Aidan Harrison.

Coach Ashenfelter was happy with the day saying, "I was very proud of our first performance. We communicated very well and our work rate was first class. To take a group of individuals who had never met each other and in 10 days or so put it all together against good competition is a testament to the character and belief they have shown in the team concept. We certainly learned a lot about ourselves and have many things to improve on going forward, but we took a great first step forward. "

Up next the Wolverines will travel to Northfield Mount Hermon to take on the Hoggers at 4:00 P.M. this Saturday followed by a game at Springfield on Sunday at 12:00 P.M.

Here are a few shots from the game...

Player Profile: Mike Jacques

2011-02-23T10:12:00.001-08:00

HOMETOWN: Tolland, CT

HIGH SCHOOL: Tolland High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was outgoing, nice, and a lot of fun

HEARD ABOUT BA: My coach from high school told me about it

GOALS AT BA: I want to have a GPA above 3.0, get into a good school to play soccer, and improve my study habits

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: It’s more structured and I have more free time due to the difference in scheduling

BEST THING ABOUT BA: Soccer

WORST THING ABOUT BA: Not being able to leave during the week

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, Rugby, Snowboarding

OUTSIDE OF BA: Snowboard, hang out with friends

ROLE MODEL: My mom

FAVORITE BOOK: Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck

FAVORITE MOVIES: Green Street Hooligans

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: New York Giants

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Pele

FAVORITE MUSIC: Country

FAVORITE MEAL: Steak

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I took tap dance classes when I was younger

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Come here with an open mind

Player Profile: James Dever

2011-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

HOMETOWN: Mansfield, MA

HIGH SCHOOL: Mansfield High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was lazy, athletic, and social

HEARD ABOUT BA: The soccer coach recruited me

GOALS AT BA: I want to bring up my GPA, perfect my study habits, and prepare for college

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: The class sizes are smaller, the teachers are more engaged, and there are fewer distractions

BEST THING ABOUT BA: How approachable the teachers are

WORST THING ABOUT BA: There are no girls

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, Skiing, Rugby, Dorm Wars, Lifting

OUTSIDE OF BA: I go to the beach, I ski, I skimboard, and I work

ROLE MODEL: Wayne Rooney

FAVORITE BOOK: Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck

FAVORITE MOVIES: Pineapple Express, Blow, Green Street Hooligans

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: The Red Sox

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Wayne Rooney

FAVORITE MUSIC: Dispatch

FAVORITE MEAL: Grilled Cheese

FAVORITE QUOTE: “To be the best you have to beat the best.”

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I played the violin for six years

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Come in with a good attitude and you will succeed

Player Profile: Evan Thomas

2011-02-16T11:56:00.001-08:00

HOMETOWN: Reading, PA

HIGH SCHOOL: Governor Mifflin High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was athletic and I was into music and played the drums

HEARD ABOUT BA: I researched schools on the internet

GOALS AT BA: Improve my GPA and SAT scores, get more looks for soccer, and establish consistency

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: The teachers are easy to talk to; everyone here is shooting for the same thing so you motivate each other

BEST THING ABOUT BA: The athletic support

WORST THING ABOUT BA: It’s all guys

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, dorm wars, school tour guide, skiing

OUTSIDE OF BA: I play the drums, I play volleyball, and I like to hike

ROLE MODEL: My grandmother

FAVORITE BOOK: The Pianist-Wladyslaw Szpilman

FAVORITE MOVIES: True Romance, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Philadelphia 76ers

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Landon Donovan

FAVORITE MUSIC: Alternative Rock, Rap, Hip Hop

FAVORITE MEAL: Lobster

FAVORITE QUOTE: It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I’ve hiked a few of the Colorado 14ers

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: You need to come ready to work and you need to know what you are getting yourself into. It will be hard, but you can improve yourself.

Player Profile: Crispin Munyanya

2011-02-10T07:08:00.001-08:00

HOMETOWN: Manchester, NH

HIGH SCHOOL: Manchester Memorial High School

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was hardworking and got along with everyone

HEARD ABOUT BA: I was contacted by the coach and heard great things from a few past players

GOALS AT BA: I want to raise my SAT scores and my GPA

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: I never had a dress code or study hall in high school. That and the teachers actually care about you here.

BEST THING ABOUT BA: You have independence

WORST THING ABOUT BA: The food

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, dorm wars, Deans Council

OUTSIDE OF BA: I help out with City Year and volunteer for the Bring It Program. I also play the double bass, violin, and cello in an orchestra.

ROLE MODEL: My older brother

FAVORITE BOOK: To Kill A Mockingbird

FAVORITE MOVIES: Goal! The Dream Begins, Friday After Next

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Chelsea FC

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Eljero Elia

FAVORITE MUSIC: Hip Hop, Rap, Techno, and Jazz

FAVORITE MEAL: Lasagna

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I speak four languages (French, Lingala, English, and Swahili)

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Waste no time, take advantage

Fall Academic Awards

2011-01-12T10:57:00.001-08:00

Last evening the Fall Academic Award Ceremony took place honoring those who went above and beyond in their classes this semester. There were recipients of these awards from several of the teams of campus. On top of the Academic Awards, a number of students were recognized for making High Honors. On the soccer team, there were several players recognized.

High Honors:

Dario Lozada

Marlon Ramalho

Ty Williams

Academic Awards:

Mike Jacques- English Composition

Andrew Kinlay- College Prep English

James Dever- Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

Jake Bricklin- Ecosystem and Evolution

The Boston Blitz Is Almost Here!

2010-12-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

To start off the New Year, coaches and admissions counselors will be traveling around Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine to meet with high school students interested in a year at Bridgton Academy. If you are would like to set up a meeting, call or email a coach today!

Here is the list of head coaches with phone numbers and email addresses:

Lacrosse- Garrett Bamann, 207-647-3322 ext. 211, gbamann@bridgtonacademy.org

Hockey- Jon Lounsbury, 207-647-3322 ext. 232, jlounsbury@bridgtonacademy.org

Football- Rick Marcella, 207-647-3322 ext. 235, marcella@bridgtonacademy.org

Basketball- Whit Lesure, 207-647-3322 ext. 233, wlesure@bridgtonacademy.org

Soccer- Alan Ashenfelter, 207-647-3322 ext. 231, aashenfelter@bridgtonacademy.org

Baseball- Aaron Izaryk, 207-647-3322 ext. 236, aizaryk@bridgtonacademy.org

Player Profile: Jacob Bricklin

2010-12-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

HOMETOWN: Bainbridge Island, WA

HIGH SCHOOL: West Sound Academy

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was an absolute goofball

HEARD ABOUT BA: My mom suggested it- she found it on the internet

GOALS AT BA: I want to get good grades

BA IS DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL: There are more rules than high school- which is all good but a lot different

BEST THING ABOUT BA: The amount of athletics

WORST THING ABOUT BA: The short periods of time you can leave campus

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer, rugby, videographer for the basketball team, ski team

OUTSIDE OF BA: I love skiing, attempting to snowboard, hanging out with friends, boating

ROLE MODEL: My dad

FAVORITE BOOK: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

FAVORITE MOVIES: V for Vendetta

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Seattle Seahawks

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Michael Jordan

FAVORITE MUSIC: Notorious B.I.G.

FAVORITE MEAL: Tacos

FAVORITE QUOTE: Do or do not there is no try- Yoda

MY FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I play a lot of chess- I was a state champ in high school

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: The teachers really care about you here.

Admissions Counselors in MA and CT!

2010-12-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

On January 4-6 the admissions office will have various counselors and coaches around Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine. They will be visiting various schools over the few days to talk with any students who are interested in a year at BA.

Coach Ashenfelter will be in CT visiting Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Ridgefield, Immaculate, Housatonic Valley, Litchfield, Wamogo, New Milford, Torrington, Lyman Hall, Sheehan, Berlin, Xavier, Middletown, Plainfield, Parish Hill, Kilingly, Putnam, Woodstock Academy, and Windam. Meanwhile Coach Vollinger will be in Mass visiting Barnstable, Falmouth, Dennis-Yarmouth, Nauset, East Sandwich, Mashpage, and Bourne.. If you or someone you might know is interested in meeting with a coach, you can contact Coach Ashenfelter via email at aashenfelter@bridgtonacademy.org or by phone at 207-647-3322 x231.

Admissions Counselors in MA and CT!

2010-12-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

BA Almuni Are Finding Success

2010-11-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Rob and Steve Palumbo '10 are both playing for the University of New Hampshire this season and finding great success. Yesterday UNH defeated BU in OT (2nd time in two weeks) in the America East Semifinals which advances UNH to the America East finals against UMBC. The game will be played at UMBC on Saturday at 1pm. Check out this link for the game write-up.

Ryne Tillman '10 is also finding great success as a freshman at Regis College. As a freshman at the end of the season Tillman is topping both the TCCC and NCAA statistics for saves. Here is another link to check out the story on Tillman.

Photos on Facebook!

2010-11-08T07:26:00.001-08:00

Check out this link to see some pictures from the game against Hebron on the Bridgton Academy Facebook Page!

Also note that tonight's (11/8) game against South Kent has been changed to start at 6:30 PM!

Hebron Can't Hold onto the Wolverines

2010-11-04T10:30:00.001-07:00

In their last home game of the season, the Wolverine soccer team came out as strong as ever. With a few additional Wolverines in the mix, the team worked hard to secure their 5-2 win. Noel Rix (Rye, NH) started off with a goal assisted by Jordan Stoddart (Brampton, ON). Not long after Stoddart finished a pass from Marlon Ramalho (Framingham, MA). Hebron got lucky when they snuck one past Wolverine goalie Marco Spisso (Highland Falls, NY). With the score close at 2-1 Stoddart helped BA pull ahead with a beautiful unassisted goal making it 3-1. Hebron put up a small fight and tallied their second, and last, goal of the night. Stoddart and Ramalho met up again when Stoddart earned his hat trick for the game. Ramalho scored BA’s insurance goal late in the second half off a pass from Jason Hudson (Raleigh, NH).

The Soccer team will travel to Phillips Exeter Academy this Saturday to play at 7:00 P.M.

Soccer Shutout Tilton

2010-11-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

The soccer team had a great week, even after a last minute cancellation earlier in the week the team had to change their game plan and get ready to face the Tilton School. The teams hard work resulted in a 5-0 shutout win over Tilton.

Bridgton didn’t waste any time scoring early in the first half when Jordan Stoddart (Brampton, ON) capitalized on a rebound from a header by Marlon Ramalho (Framingham, MA). BA had a number of quality chances but could not extend the lead going into the half. After what must have been an inspiring pep talk at the half, Bridgton came out and scored four times in the second half. Stoddart added two more goals assisted by Michael Jacques (Tolland, CT) and Noel Rix (Rye, NH), and drew a penalty kick that Ramalho turned into the fourth goal. After hitting the crossbar three times in a row, a determined Jacques placed a ball in the back of the net for BA’s fifth and final goal of the contest. The Wolverine defenders had what the coaching staff called their best performance of the season.

Coach Ashenfelter was very pleased with the guy’s performance saying, “we have been talking about putting together a complete performance, and this was our best showing thus far. They were focused during pre-game, played hard and smart for a full 90 minutes, and maintained composure in the final minutes to close out the game and finish the day in a professional manner. We will look to carry this momentum into a critical week and our next matchup with Hebron.”

On Wednesday the team will host Hebron Academy at 3:00 P.M.

BA Holds Winchendon to a Close Game

2010-10-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

The soccer team lost a tough match to Winchendon Saturday afternoon. BA went down a goal in the first half on a long shot from twenty five yards out. The ball just barely went over goaltender Ryan Rogers (Falmouth, ME) who made a great diving effort. BA had plenty of scoring opportunities but was not able to finish them. The Wolverine defense shut down the Wapidi offense in the second half giving up very little in the back. Bridgton kept up a continuous attack creating great scoring chances including two shots that hit the post. The boys played very hard but unfortunately the lack of capitalization on shots lead to a 1-0 loss for BA.

"On a day when nothing seemed to go the way of the Wolverines, the team battled to the very end. With Winchendon reeling for the entire second stanza and barely extending out of their own half, we just could not break through. We had a number of close calls, three posts, shots that went just wide and high, balls cleared off the line or deflected by a defender, but at the end of the day we did not do enough to get the job done. We must regroup quickly, and show our resilience to rebound on Tuesday," said Coach Ashenfelter.

The team will travel to Assumption College to face the South Kent School this Tuesday to play at 6:00 P.M.

Crispin Munyanya awarded Athlete of The Month

2010-10-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Crispin Munyanya (Manchester, NH) has been awarded C0-Athlete of The Month for September 2010. The award is given by the Wolverine Strength program and is considered one fo the highest honors given by the Athletic Department. Not only is athletic performance taken into account but also character and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

You can read about it here:

http://www.bridgtonacademy.org/athmonth.cfm

Pictures Up On Facebook

2010-10-12T11:32:00.001-07:00

Check out this link for pictures on facebook of the soccer game vs. Kents Hill!

Parents Weekend Is A Success for Soccer

2010-10-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

The soccer team had a chance to turn things around as they took the field in front of family and friends for Parents Weekend. They played a great game against Kents Hill and walked away with a 5-2 victory.

In the first half Jordan Stoddart (Brampton, ON) put BA on the score board with a great header off of a nice cross by Noel Rix (Rye, NH). The game was pretty even in the first half with both sides having opportunities to score. However, Bridgton controlled most of the possession taking the game into halftime with a one goal lead.

In the second half both teams took the field ready to play. Bridgton took at 2-0 lead when Stoddart gave a pass to James Dever (Mansfield, MA) who put the ball in the net. A few minutes later Stoddard had a great shot on goal which rebounded directly to Rix who was able to give BA a 3-0 lead. Stoddart worked his magic again as he gave BA in insurance goal with a rocket into the upper left corner. Being down 4-0 Kents Hill had a little success as they were able to sneak two goals by the BA goaltender. It was but enough, especially when Bridgton scored one last goal when Even Thomas (Reading, PA) got a shot off from inside the box to secure the 5-2 win.

Coach Ashenfelter was pleased with his team saying, “we had a solid performance all around. On a great day the team rose to the occasion of Parents Weekend and capitalized on their opportunities netting both highlight reel goals as well as scrappy goals. We will look to build on this collective effort going forward. “

The wolverine soccer team wants to extend a special thanks to the Janos family for organizing a post game meal. It was greatly appreciated.

Bowdoin Slips Past BA

2010-10-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

Bridgton traveled to Bowdoin College to play their JV team this Wednesday. Bridgton battled through the rain and cold but was unable to win against a more physical Bowdoin team. The Polar Bears took the lead late in the first half, scoring on a header from a corner kick. The game conditions worsened as the rain continued to fall. Crispin Munyanya (Manchester, NH) nearly tied the score when he fought for a loose ball in the box and was able to get his shot off. Unfortunately, the Bowdoin keeper made a good save to preserve his teams lead.

Bowdoin scored again early in the second half on a loose ball in Bridgton's box. Bridgton's defense worked hard and held off Bowdoin's attack for the rest of the match. The wolverines had a few good chances to score in the second half but were unable to capitalize and fell to Bowdoin 2-0.

After the game, Coach Ashenfelter took saw it as a learning opportunity. "Bowdoin was a very strong team, and it was a great opportunity for us to learn how to play in tough conditions against a strong opponent. Chances went back and forth, and unfortunately on the day Bowdoin was able to capitalize on their chances and we were not," said Ashenfelter.

Ashenfelter also wanted to mention, "A special thanks is due to the Rogers Family who's generous post game meal helped us to recover from the loss, and look forward to getting back on the field this Saturday."

The team will take the field again when Kents Hill comes to BA for Parents Weekend. The team will play at 3:30 on Saturday the 9th.

Parents Weekend is Here!

2010-10-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

The team is working hard to prepare for their game against Kents Hill this coming Saturday October 9th at 3:30 P.M. They can't wait for their families and friends to come out and support them!

Soccer Continues Undefeated Streak

2010-10-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

After a week off from competition, the wolverine soccer team was ready to get started as they faced The Winchendon School at home this weekend. Bridgton came out and controlled most of the possession in the first half. The Wolverines had a few good chances to put the ball in the back of the net but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities. With ten minutes left in the second half, Bridgton took a penalty inside the box giving Winchendon a Penalty kick. Winchendon scored taking a 1-0 lead into the second half.

Bridgton came out in the second half fired up. Fifteen minutes into the half, midfielder Ty Williams (South Burlington, VT) evened the score when he hit a one time ball from outside the eighteen yard box, into the corner of the net. Bridgton kept the pressure on and had many good chances in the second half. The defense shut down the Winchendon attack giving up only one shot on goal the entire half. Bridgton dominated the play but was unfortunately unable to score leaving the game a 1-1 tie for a final score.

Coach Ashenfelter is happy with the team's performance and is looking forward to helping the Wolverines learn from it. "I am proud of the way the team battled back from another poor start, going down 1-0 on a penalty kick. We have showed great resilience coming back time and time again after conceding the first goal. Had the game been extended another five minutes I believe we may have finally found the game winner. We must continue to improve our shape at the back, and take control of the game early instead of waiting until we get knocked down to start playing," says Ashenfelter.

The team will travel to Bowdoin College on October 6th to play at 4:15 P.M. Then they will play at home for Parents Weekend on the 9th at 3:30 P.M. against Kents Hill.

Soccer Extends Undefeated Streak Over The Weekend

2010-09-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the soccer team traveled to Massachussetts for a two day road trip. They started with a match against Deerfield Academy and followed up the next day at Worcester Academy. In the game against Deerfield the Wolverines played a hard game and took an early lead. Jordan Stoddart (Brampton, ON) struck first against Deerfield when he took a long punt from Ryan Rogers (Falmouth, ME) behind the defense for a goal early in the first half. After multiple scoring opportunities from each team, Mike Jacques (Tolland, CT) took a penalty in the box. Deerfield capitalized on the opportunity and tied the game 1-1. Bridgton worked hard for the rest of the match and held Deerfield to a tie.

On Sunday the team made the drive to Worcester Academy where the game started off very differently. Worcester went ahead with an early goal only five minutes into the game. It didn’t take long however for Stoddart and Noel Rix (Rye, NH) to find each other as Rix scored BA’s first goal of the game. After ten minutes of even play, Worcester found a scoring opportunity again to go up 2-1. BA fought hard, and was rewarded as a Worcester defender put the ball in his own net. The game was tied 2-2 at the half and BA came out looking for a win. In the second half both teams were fired up. Much to BA’s disadvantage Marlon Ramalho (Framingham, MA) was carded with 18 minutes to go and BA was to play a man down. However, the Wolverines never gave up. With five minutes left in the game Crispin Munyanya (Manchester, NH) found a pass from Jacob Bricklin (Bainbridge Island, WA) and put it away to give BA a 3-2 win.

The team will be on the road for their next match up as they travel to the Holderness School to play on Saturday October 2nd at 2:30 P.M.

Soccer Earns First Shutout of the Season

2010-09-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Wolverine soccer team brought home a big win from Thayer Academy yesterday. The team traveled all the way to Braintree where they faced the Tigers and walked away with a shutout beating Thayer 3-0.

The game started out very evenly matched with the ball traveling up and down the field. For the first 20 minutes of play there was no score until Noel Rix (Rye, NH) scored the first goal of the game with an assist from Jordan Stoddart (Brampton, ON). With a 1-0 lead the Wolverines continued to work hard, dominating the play from there out. Stoddart had a few close shots but missed the goal by inches. With under two minutes to go in the first half, Stoddart crossed the ball in front of Thayer’s net where Paul Janos (Weston, MA) was waiting to put it away. The Wolverines ended the half up 2-0.

After the half, both teams hit the field ready to work hard. With the intensity up, the play continued with no score. There were again various opportunities to score for both teams, but Ryan Rogers (Falmouth, ME) kept Bridgton in the game saving every shot that came his way and earning his first shutout. After 44 minutes of a scoreless half, with seconds to go in the game, Stoddart found a pass from Janos, beat the goalie for an open net, and put the Wolverines ahead 3-0 for the final score of the game.

With another win in the books the team is looking forward to their next game when they travel to Deerfield Academy to play on Friday September 24th at 4:00 P.M.

Soccer Beats CMCC

2010-09-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

The wolverine soccer team had a great win last night over Central Maine Community College 6-3.

Jordan Stoddard (Bampton, ON) started off the Wolverine's offensive attack with a goal approximately 15 minutes into the first half. Within the next minute, Stoddard was at it again, this time with a clear pass to Noel Rix (Rye, NH) who put the Wolverines on the scoreboard for a second time. Play continued back and forth until the pair found each other again with Rix finishing a pass from Stoddard with 2:36 left in the first half. The Wolverines ended the half ahead 3-0.

As play started in the second half, a CMCC player scored 5 minutes in. It didn't take long however for Stoddard to answer back with two goals assisted by Rix in the next six minutes earning himself a hattrick for the day. CMCC got lucky again with a goal, but BA continued to dominate the play. Crispin Munyanya (Manchester, NH) added an insurance goal with 14:15 left in the game putting the Wolverines well in the lead 6-2. One more CMCC goal slipped past with a few minutes left on the clock, but Bridgton continued to fight hard to make sure they stayed in the lead to earn their 6-3 victory.

Coach Ashenfelter liked what he saw from his team. "Our commitment and work rate defensively was markedly improved, and our ball movement was consistently dangerous going forward. I am proud of the way we competed throughout the game, maintained composure, and played as a team. We will look to continue building on this improvement in our next training session, and carry the momentum into our next contest," said Ashenfelter.

Stoddard makes his way to the goal for one of his three in the game

Munyanya makes the pass to an open teammate

Paul Janos (Weston, MA) slips by a CMCC player

CMCC can't stop Rix from scoring two goals against them

With a win behind them, the team hopes to keep the feelin alive as they travel to Thayer Academy on Monday September 20th to play at 4:30 PM.

Soccer goes 0-2 Over the Weekend

2010-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the Wolverine soccer team travelled to Northfield Mt. Hermon and Springfield College. The team lost 6-2 against Northfield Mt. Hermon and 4-1 against Springfield. Jordan Stoddart (Brampton) scored all three of the goals for BA this weekend.

While it was a tough weekend Coach Ashenfelter is looking forward to learning and moving on. "We were short on subs but BA played hard for 180 minutes over two days. Now we are looking to rebound," said Ashenfelter.

The soccer team will host Central Maine Community College this Wednesday September 15th at 4:00 P.M.

Soccer Hits the Road

2010-09-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

The wolverine soccer team will play their next game on the road this Saturday September 11th at 2:00 P.M. at Northfield Mt. Hermon. They will then play on Sunday September 12th at 12:00 P.M. at Springfield College.

Soccer Wins on the Road

2010-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

The soccer team traveled to Southern Maine Community College and returned with a win as they defeated Southern Maine 2-1 in a very close game.

After the wolverines dominated the first 65 minutes of play they went down 1-0 as Southern Maine scored the first goal of the game. Just 10 minutes later Jordan Stoddart (Brampton) put away a pass from Crispin Munyanay (Manchester, NH) to tie things up. The game winning goal came in the 85th minute when Noel Rix (Rye, NH) scored with assists from Stoddart and James Dever (Mansfield, MA).

Coach Ashenfelter was very happy with the hard work he saw from his team. “For our first game the team did very well. We carried the play but struggled early to find the finishing touch. After going down 1-0 in the second half, I am proud of the way the players battled back and found a way to get the result. It was a great first step for our team. We now set our sights on preparing for this Saturday,” said Ashenfelter.

The soccer team is looking forward to their next game on the road at Northfield Mt. Hermon at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday September 11th.

Photo Credit Nova Rogers

Photo Credit Nova Rogers

Photo Credit Nova Rogers

Photo Credit Nova Rogers

Preseason Coming to an End

2010-08-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Wolverine soccer team has been working hard and preseason is coming to an end. With the rest of the Bridgton Academy students arriving tomorrow orientation will begin followed by the start of classes.

The team is still working hard to start the season off strong at Southern Maine Community College for their first game on the road which takes place at 4:00 p.m. on September 8th.

A Positive Start to the Season

2010-08-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

The BA soccer team had an early start today as they start the season off. Coach Ashenfelter only had positive things to say. “The Wolverine soccer program hit the field today at 6am signifying the start of pre-season. The coaching staff is very excited by the high energy level and immediate team spirit displayed by the new squad. This positive attitude is a great sign for things to come.”

With three practices today and continuing all week the team is working hard and preparing for their season opener at Southern Maine CC on September 8th at 4:00.

Preseason Underway

2010-08-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

The soccer team arrived on campus today excited and ready to get started. After a quick meeting the team headed up to the field for some hard work and testing for the upcoming season. Practices start early tomorrow morning.

Wolverine Strength adds staff

2010-07-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Wolverine Strength program is proud to announce Michelle Sturgeon has joined the program and will be working exclusively with the soccer and lacrosse program.

Michelle joins Bridgton Academy after 10 years of coaching and training in the Boston area.
Michelle earned a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Maine, Orono in 1997 and a M.Ed. with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from Springfield College in 2002.
Michelle attended school while designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs for Springfield College as well as American International College. As a previous employee of Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning, Michelle coached athletes from the NHL, NFL, NLL, WUSA and USA Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team.
Michelle has earned a Club Coach Certification from USA Weightlifting, Performance Enhancement Specialist Certification from NASM, as well as her Schwinn Certification.

Joe Sawicki, Interim Athletic Director and Coordinator of Strength and Conditioning stated that, "We were very lucky to have Michelle join our program. She brings a tremendous depth of knowledge and will undoubtedly keep Bridgton Academy on the cutting edge of athletic development. I am eager to see how our soccer athletes will progress throughout the year."

Additionally, Michelle will also serve as Registrar as well as teaching in the science department.

Bridgton Academy Soccer

2010-07-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

A video produced by BA Alum and soccer standout Dan Egan '83.

2010 Soccer Schedule

2010-07-21T11:16:00.001-07:00

The 2010 Wolverine Soccer schedule is up. The season kicks off on September 8th, away against Southern Maine CC. The first home game of the season is set for September 15th against Central Maine CC.

Here is a link for the complete schedule.

New Head Soccer Coach Announced

2010-07-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Bridgton Academy announced the hiring of Alan Ashenfelter as the new Head Soccer Coach for the upcoming year. In addition to his coaching duties Ashenfelter will be teaching a mix of math and humanities classes. He will also serve as the Assistant Director of Mass Hall.

Ashenfelter was a student athlete at Wesleyan University where he earned a degree in History. Ashenfelter played four years for the Cardinals and served as Captain his senior year. In 2005 Ashenfelter and the Cardinals won the schools first ever NESCAC Championship. In 2005 and 2006 they played in the teams first two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual National Champions Messiah in OT. Ashenfelter helped build a program that is now regularly ranked in the Top 20 in the Country. In 2008 he was named to 1st Team All NESCAC and was also awarded the Raymond J. Walsh Memorial Award for exceptional leadership and outstanding ability.

Ashenfelter has been working at the Rivers School in Weston, MA since his graduation from Wesleyan. There he has worked as a teacher and coach, working with the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse programs at the school.

Class of 2010 Getting Some Press

2010-06-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dillon Flynn is heading to Sewanee and they have a nice write up on Dillon here.

Rob Palumbo made the top ten in this video (his shot comes at about the 2min mark)

Enjoy.

Vieira Signs NLI

2010-05-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Ronaldo Vieira signing his NLI with Head Coach Kevin Mellon

Bridgton Academy Soccer standout Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA)recently signed his National Letter of Intent to play soccer next fall at Radford University in Radford, VA. Vieira chose Radford because newly appointed head coach Marc Reeves showed a great deal of interest, "I was waiting to hear from some schools, and Coach Reeves made made an offer and I talked with my parents and decided it was the right place," Ronaldo said of his decision.

Vieira contributes a great deal of his success to the Bridgton program, but his individual hard work is not over looked. Vieira came into preseason weighing 222 lbs, he trimmed 20 pounds off midway through the season, and in the off season he is now down to 180 lbs. Ronaldo said, "Coach Mellon pushed us as a team hard, to improve our play as a team an individually. Playing with great players allowed us all to get exposure." Vieira set his goals on playing soccer at a D-I school coming into the school year, but he also knew he must get his grades up to achieve that. He has done just that.

Radford University competes at the Division I level, in the Big South Conference.

Wolverine Strength hits the web

2010-03-30T12:24:00.001-07:00

Bridgton Academy is proud to announce the start of the Bridgton Academy Strength & Conditioning Blog. You can find up to the minute information regarding all that is going on in the world of Wolverine Strength. You can click on the link at the lower right of this page or check it out here.

Martin Signs National Letter of Intent

2010-03-23T10:59:00.001-07:00

Ethan Martin signs his National Letter of Intent to play at Yavapai College.

Soccer standout Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) signed his National Letter of Intent to attend Yavapai College next year. The Roughriders are NJCAA members of Region One. Located Prescott, AZ the soccer program has won seven national championships since 1990. Martin stated his reasons for attending Yavapai as being, "the school is in a good location, I can see new places and I will be exposed to West Coast schools now." Martin first was referred to the school by his home state university's (UVM) soccer coach. Ethan says that his year at Bridgton, "opened more doors" for him as a player and now has more East Coast exposure. Following his years at Yavapai he hopes to move on and play at the NCAA DI level.

Nice write up on the Palumbo's

2010-02-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

Both Rob and Steve have committed to UNH for next season, it will be exciting to watch them continue to play together.

Palumbos Sign National Letters of Intent

2010-02-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Bridgton Academy Soccer standouts Rob and Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) signed National Letters of Intent to play soccer at the University of New Hampshire next fall.

Rob and Steve Palumbo sign their National Letters of Intent to the University of New Hampshire. They are joined by Bridgton Head Soccer Coach Kevin Mellon.

The Palumbos, New Hampshire natives, credited the university saying, "Its close to home, they have a great coach (Rob Thompson) who we have known for a long time." Rob and Steve join a long line of family members to attend UNH, which includes their sister Diana '07, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.

During their time as Wildcats the Palumbos have goals for themselves, Steve said, "I want to have a good soccer career, show well personally, but also make the team better so we can do well in the conference and make the NCAA tournament." Rob had similar aspirations stating, "I want to continue to succeed in soccer, but also focus on academics in case soccer doesn't follow through."

The twins chose to attend Bridgton Academy because as Rob said, "We only applied to UNH, and Bridgton was the back up plan, to increase test scores, and GPAs." Steve saw the year as one, "to grow and get better, become prepared for the college level."

Giving credit to Bridgton Steve said, "Academically, its hard not to do well here because there are so many opportunities to get work done, and there is not much else going on around here. You can do work, and then go train because we have the facilities and (Head Athletic Trainer) Sawicki does a great job with the workout programs." Rob said he has become, "more focused on school, I have increased my GPA, and physically gotten better thanks to Coach Mellon running the program well, with the right training."

Head Coach Kevin Mellon had the following to say about his players, "Rob is one of the nicest and most genuine players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. He always wants to learn more and do more. He knows what he needs to do every day."

Rob compiled the following stats over the Fall season:
- Games Played - Games Started: 15-15
- Goals: 18 (1 game winner)
- Assists: 13 (1st)
- Points: 49 (2nd)

vs. Bowdoin College JV: 3 goals (1st game)
vs. Navy Prep: 3 goals
vs. Winchendon School: 1 goal & 1 assist
vs. Bowdoin College JV: 3 goals & 4 assists
vs. Holderness School: 2 goals & 3 assists
vs.Kents Hill School: 1 goal
vs. Hyde School (ME): 2 goals & 2 assists
vs. Tilton School: 1 goal & 2 assists
vs. Winchendon School: 1 assist
vs. South Kent School: 1 goal (3-1 victory over the only other undefeated team in NEPSAC)
vs. Hebron Academy: 1 goal

- Bridgton Academy Player of the Month: September '09
- 1st Semester GPA: 3.35
- Academic Honors: 1st & 2nd Quarters
- Faculty Class Award: World War II
- Community Service: Wolverines in Training Soccer Clinic

"Steve is the true definition of a leader. It is odd for a young man to come into a program like this (being one-year) and lead the team from Day 1. He led by example both on and off the pitch. He is a great student-athlete and a play maker."

Steve had the following statistics:
- Games Played - Games Started: 15-15
- Goals: 11 (3 game winners)
- Assists: 7
- Points: 29 (4th)

vs. Bowdoin College JV: 1 assist
vs. Providence Country Day School: 1 assist
vs. Thayer Academy: 1 assist
vs. Milton Academy: 1 goal
vs. Winchendon School: 2 goals
vs. Kents Hill School: 3 goals & 1 assist
vs. Hyde School (ME): 1 goal & 2 assists
vs. Tilton School: 2 goals
vs. South Kent School: 2 goals (3-1 victory over the only other undefeated team in NEPSAC)
vs. Hebron Academy: 1 assist

- Team Captain
- 1st Semester GPA: 3.75
- High Honors: 1st & 2nd Quarter
- Community Service: Wolverines in Training Soccer Clinic

Coach Kevin Mellon is congratulated by former Wildcat, and current Bridgton Headmaster Grady Vigneau, during the signing of National Letters of Intent by Rob and Steve Palumbo.

Andrew Henshaw '08 Making Headlines

2010-02-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Bridgton graduate Andrew Henshaw '08 has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region Team. Henshaw a standout soccer player, is at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For the full article follow the link: http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/121109aaa.html

Student Profile: Josh Lombard

2010-01-26T12:21:00.000-08:00

HOMETOWN: Saco, ME.

IN HIGH SCHOOL: I was a little bit lazy, I just coasted through I did the minimum amount of work and I didn’t really study a lot. School work wasn’t the biggest priority for me in high school.

HEARD ABOUT BA: My soccer coach talked to me about going to a prep school, and my guidance counselor in high school knew Mr. Webb so they made the connection.

GOALS AT BA: Just to get better grades. Learn how to be productive so I can excel in college.

BA IS DIFFERENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL: Well first, Bridgton is all boys. Here the teachers actually care about your work, and grades, and if you excel or not. In high school they didn’t really care as much. People here are also more willing to help you if you need it. In high school it was kind of intimidating to ask teachers for extra help.

BEST ABOUT BA: The atmosphere and the people here. Everyone is kind of here for the same thing, and the teachers are here to help you out. Its just a great atmosphere.

WORST THING ABOUT BA: The location, its in the middle of nowhere. Its hard to get yourself motivated with the weather outside right now (winter). Its hard to get up in the morning and actually go to classes.

ACTIVITIES AT BA: Soccer.

OUTSIDE OF BA: I play a lot of video games, pick up basketball, lift weights.

ROLE MODEL: My Mom, she is really hard working, and she can push herself to be better and always striving to be the best person she can be and it reflects on me.

FAVORITE BOOK: I just recently read The Blind Side, that’s good.

FAVORITE MOVIES: The Hangover is really funny, or Step Brothers.

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM & ATHLETE: Boston Red Sox, Kevin Garnett.

FAVORITE MUSIC: Hip-hop.

FRIENDS WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: That if I’m in the right mood I actually like to read books.

BA PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW: Even though this place is up in the middle of nowhere, and its all guys, its still going to be one of the best choices you ever make because its going to get you ready for college and your future.

BA Bits

2010-01-07T06:06:00.000-08:00

The Boston Blitz effort is wrapping up on Friday, the Admission’s team is visiting the following schools today: Newton North, Newton South, CRL, Everett, Medford, Winchester, Wakefield, Malden, Barnstable, Falmouth, Dennis-Yarmouth, Nauset, Hopkington, Bellingham, Dover-Sherborne, Ashland, and Norton. The trip wraps up tomorrow with a swing through Billerica, Burlington, Bedford, Lexington, and Arlington.

Feedback from the team on the road has been very positive as they have had the opportunity to meet up with a number of great kids who are interested in BA.
Bridgton will be holding a Group Information Session on January 18th here on campus, if you are interested in attending give the Admission Office a call at 207-647-3322x4 for details.

Head Lacrosse Coach, Garrett Bamann ’00 will be heading out to the Rochester NY area on January 18th to conduct interviews, if you are interested in contacting Mr. Bamann call 207-647-3322 x211 or email gbamann@bridgtonacedemy.org.

Two other quick pieces to pass along-become a Fan of Bridgton Academy on Facebook and don’t forget to check out the new online book store where you can pick up all your Bridgton Academy gear to keep you looking sharp in 2010.

The Boston Blitz Day Two

2010-01-05T05:34:00.001-08:00

The Admissions team and coaches are continuing their tour of schools in the Greater Boston area, tomorrow they will be visiting: Wayland, Weston, Framingham, Natick, Holliston, Acton-Boxboro, Belmont, Groton-Dunstable, Littleton, Hull, Middleborough, Scituate, Duxbury, Wareham, Medway, Millis, Medfield, Westwood, and Burriville (in RI). If you would like to get in touch with the Admissions office call 207.647.3322 x4. Thank you for all the leads that you called in yesterday.

The Admissions Team Heading to the Greater Boston Area

2010-01-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

The Admissions team along with a number of coaches will be out in the greater Boston area starting tomorrow. If you know of a potential student that they should see give the Admissions office a call today- 207 647 3322 x4. Tomorrow the team will be in Dracut, Chelmsford, North Reading, Reading, Woburn, Plymouth North, Plymouth South, Marshfield, and Hingham.

Team awarded Athlete Of The Month for November

2009-12-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

The Bridgton Academy soccer team was awarded the November Athlete Of The Month award by Coach Sawicki in Chapel last week. Coach Sawicki made the presentation by saying, "I think that this might be the best team in the history of the program. This was the best combination of talent and teamwork that I have ever seen from the Wolverine Soccer Team." For their dedication to excellence by exhibiting teamwork and unselfish play, they are awarded the November 2009 Athlete of The Month award. A special t-shirt commemorating the occasion will be produced during winter break and handed out when they return. You can read about the award here: http://www.bridgtonacademy.org/athmonth.cfm

Looking for a holiday gift for the Wolverine Soccer Fan?

2009-12-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

Bridgton Academy's bookstore is now available online and with it comes all the BA gear you could want, including Wolverine Soccer t-shirts and BA hoodies and sweat pants. Get some of your shopping done today!

Wolverines Complete Undefeated Regular Season

2009-11-14T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Wolverines traveled to Exeter, NH to take on Phillips Exeter Academy under the lights. In the final regular season game of the year for Bridgton they faced off against the second ranked team in the NEPSAC East.

In the first half each team had scoring opportunities, however neither could convert. "We had some great shots, we hit two posts and the crossbar once, just couldn't get one in," said Head Coach Kevin Mellon of the first half. Exeter held a 5-4 advantage in shots at the half, which was tied 0-0.

In the second half the Wolverines came out fired up and, "figured out what we needed to do," added Mellon. It was not until the 86th minute that BA would finally capitalize. Coming off of a ball volleyed into the box by Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) Dillon Flynn was able to make his way through a crowd and find the back of the net for the first goal of the game.

Just a minute later Exeter had a corner kick that brought all of their players into the Bridgton box, after the initial scoring attempt by Exeter, Vieira was able to clear the ball to midfield where he found a wide open Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) who had a break away with only the goalie to beat. Martin found the bottom right corner for a 2-0 lead.

However, Exeter did not give up, in the 88th minute they scored to cut the lead to 2-1, but time would run out and Bridgton held on for the win.

"Exeter is one of the best teams we have faced all year, they played us very well" commented Mellon. Bridgton out shot Exeter 10-3 in the second half and 14-8 in the game. The win improves BA's record to 14-0-1 overall and 11-0-1 in NEPSAC play.

Concluding the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1982, when Bridgton went on to be the Maine State Champs with a record of 9-0-1. This is the first undefeated regular season for Bridgton in NEPSAC play.

The Wolverines wait to find out their playoff fate which will be announced Sunday afternoon.

Wolverines Cut Down Lumberjacks

2009-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Bridgton Academy took its shortest trip of the fall to take on Hebron Academy. Competing in its final MAISAD competition of the season the Wolverines easily handed the Lumberjacks a 4-0 loss.

In a game that was not as close as the score indicated, the Wolverines jumped on top early and then controlled tempo and play the remainder of the game. In just the second minute of play Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH) took a pass from Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) and found the back of the net. Just six minutes later Khartabil would score again, this time unassisted. Bridgton took a 2-0 lead into the half.

In the second half Nick Christensen (Waterville, ME) headed a cross from Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC) into the goal for a 3-0 lead. In the 77th minute Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) completed the scoring by converting on a pass from Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA).

Bridgton out shot Hebron 19-2, Coach Mellon said, "It was not our best game of the season, but it was nice to take a short ride and posses the ball and control play in the way we did."

Bridgton Takes Battle of Unbeatens

2009-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday afternoon’s game was a match up of two of the best squads in the NEPSAC as the undefeated South Kent Cardinals (11-0-1) took on the undefeated Bridgton Academy Wolverines (11-0-1) in South Kent, Connecticut.

After a six and a half hour bus ride the Wolverines took the field to less than ideal conditions, as the field was completely soaked and the rain was not letting up. It would take a strong start by the Cardinals including a penalty kick opportunity, for the Wolverines to get into a groove. In the 25th minute South Kent was awarded a penalty kick, battling the muddy conditions in goal, Ryne Tillman (Bedford, MA) was able to stop the shot and start the offensive attack. Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC) was then able to feed Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH), in transition, who found the back of the net for the first goal of the game.

The Cardinals, however, would not go away as they answered back just seven minutes later to even the score at 1-1. Just before the half in the 42nd minute the Wolverines would get a penalty kick opportunity of their own. Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) took the kick and deposited the ball in the right hand corner after a deflection by the keeper, to take a 2-1 advantage into the half.

“The weather was a major factor in the game, with puddles and mud on the field stopping the ball,” said Coach Kevin Mellon. “Both teams adjusted well to the conditions, but it would have been a different match with good conditions.”

In the fifth minute of the second half Steve Palumbo would find the back of the net one more time to extend the lead to 3-1. That is where it would stay, as the two squads played to a draw the final 40 minutes of the contest.

Coach Mellon gave a large amount of credit for the win to his keeper, Ryne Tillman, saying, “Ryne kept us in the game, by making some point blank saves. He played his best game of the season, coming off of the line when he needed to and making all the right decisions.”

“I don’t think that was the best game we have played all year, and I think that South Kent is better than what they showed. I look forward to facing them down the road, and under good conditions,” added Mellon.

The Wolverines held a slight advantage in shots at 17-14. With the win Bridgton improves to 10-0-1 in NEPSAC play and 12-0-1 overall. The Cardinals fall to 11-1-1.
Bridgton will close out its regular season schedule next week was they travel to take on Hebron Academy on Wednesday November, 4th and Phillips Exeter Academy on Saturday November, 7th.

Wolverines Take Back Traditions Cup

2009-10-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Bridgton Academy Soccer has reclaimed the Traditions Cup; after years of being in Winchendon School's possession, the annual trophy, given to the winner of the season series, is back in North Bridgton.

The Wolverines defeated Winchendon 5-2, to sweep the season series, 2-0. The Wolverines have now won ten consecutive matches, and improve their record to 11-0-1. Bridgton allowed two goals for the first time in seven contests and just the third time all season.

Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) was a part of every goal, as he collected nine points on the day. Martin tallied four goals and a helper. Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) tacked on the other goal while also picking up an assist. Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH) assisted on two of Martin’s goals, while Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) chipped in one assist.

Bridgton, now looks ahead to a match up with South Kent School, who is one of the top teams in the NEPSAC this season. The match will be October, 28th at 3:30 PM in South Kent, Connecticut.

Watch Today's Match Online

2009-10-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

Today's match can be viewed online through South Kent School's live streaming broadcast. The following link will provide full coverage:

Game time is 3:30 PM

BA Reaches 10 Wins

2009-10-21T04:58:00.001-07:00

The Bridgton Academy Wolverines reached double digit wins for the first time under second year head coach Kevin Mellon. The Wolverines defeated Tilton School, 8-0 to improve their record to 10-0-1.

Bridgton got the scoring going early on, in the 4th minute Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC took a feed from Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) and found the back of the net. Ten minutes later Flynn would return the favor to make it 2-0. Bridgton played what Jamie White (New Orleans, LA) called, "lock down defense, not allowing a shot." The Wolverines would push the lead to 6-0 at the half on goals from Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH), Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH), Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) and Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT).

Coach Mellon was very impressed with the way his team competed, and possessed the ball, holding it for 80% of the game. "We played at a faster pace than normal, which is going to help us going into the remaining games."

In the second half the Black and Gray scored two early goals, in the 47th and 48th minutes by Martin and Steve Palumbo respectively. From that point on the Wolverines possessed the ball and controlled tempo.

On the season Bridgton has outscored opponents 70-9, and in the last six matches have outscored opponents 50-3.

BA next travels to Winchendon on Friday October, 23 at 3:30 PM. The Wolverines defeated Winchendon earlier in the season 6-1, and look to continue with their dominating performances.

Rob Palumbo Named Athlete of The Month

2009-10-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

There was a time when Bridgton Academy soccer was a familiar name in the New England Prep School Class A playoffs each year. The team reached the final four in back to back years in ’04 and ’05 and looked poised to take the next step and hoist a championship banner. With several coaching changes, the program slipped a little but this year’s Wolverine soccer team looks like it may the one to return to the upper echelon of New England Prep School soccer. At the front and center of the team is this month’s Athlete of The Month, Rob Palumbo.

Forget the fact that he scored 30% of the goals for the team that went 7-0-1 for the month. The manner in which he did it was the real story. In the season opener against Bowdoin College, he tallied a hat trick to lead the team to a 4-0 victory. He repeated the task 2 more times, once against Navy Prep and again against Bowdoin College. His 10 goals left him 1 behind the team lead for the month and his 25 points was second as well.

His real impact was felt in his playmaking ability. His play simply lifts his teammates to a higher plane. On any given day, you will hear in the crowd, “Did you just see what he did with the ball?!” after he has set his teammates up for an easy score. His teammates have responded by dominating the competition for the month.

The theme of “This Is Sparta” for our Athlete of The Month award this year has never been more evident in Rob’s play. While you win or lose as a team, each team needs effective leadership. Rob’s play and leadership for the month have earned him the inaugural Athlete of The Month award for the 2009-2010 school year.

Bridgton Downs Phoenix 9-0

2009-10-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Bridgton Academy took down its second consecutive MAISAD opponent, Hyde School, 9-0 on Saturday. The Wolverines outshot the Phoenix 20-4.

The Wolverines were able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead on the first ten minutes, thanks to two Rob Palumbo (Kingson, NH) goals. The Black and Gray would not let up as they went on to score four more goals in the half to take a commanding 6-0 lead into the half.

In the second half Bridgton continued to pressure Hyde, and were able to find the back of the net three more times. "In the second half we were more patient, and waited for opportunities," said Coach Mellon. "The team is really coming together, we have gotten into a groove of late and played well."

Ryne Tillman (Medford, MA) stopped all four shots he faced, for his fourth shutout of the year.

Rob Palumbo finished the game with two goals and two assists. Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC) collected three assists and one goal, Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) had two goals. Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) scored twice and had one assist, Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) scored once and assisted on two other goals.

The Wolverines next face Tilton School on Wednesday October, 14. "Tilton will be a tough match, they played Winchendon close and it will let us know where we are," Mellon added.

Steve Palumbo's Hat Trick Leads BA

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Bridgton Academy Wolverines defeated the Kents Hill Huskies 7-1, on Wednesday afternoon. All the scoring would take place in the second half as the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the opening half. Bridgton was not without scoring opportunities as the hosts were out shot 13-2 in the first half.

Captain Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH) called the first half of the game a, "wake up call." Tied 0-0 and unable to convert on multiple opportunities the Wolverines in the second half, "Came together, and dominated," according to Khartabil. Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) got the scoring started with an unassisted goal in the 65th minute, coming off of a quick counter to a Kents Hill direct kick. Kents Hill would answer back five minutes later to even the score at 1-1. The Wolverines responded with six unanswered goals. Palumbo scored two minutes after Kents Hill scored for the eventual game winner, Khartabil collected the assist. Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) scored in the 76th and 83rd minute. Khartabil scored in the 80th minute and brothers Steve and Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) scored back to back goals to end the game making the final score 7-1.

Steve Palumbo ended the day with a hat trick, including the game winner, and an assist. Martin had two goals, his fifth consecutive game with two or more goals. Khartabil collected a goal and an assist.

Once again Bridgton had a slow start, however they did not have to be scored on first, this time, to answer the bell. Coach Mellon said, "It took some adjusting for my players to get used to the turf and be able to read the ball, but once that occurred we were able to convert."

The Black and Gray face their second MAISAD school in two games as they host the Hyde School on Saturday at 3:30 PM.

Martin, Wolverines Dominate Holderness

2009-10-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) lead the Bridgton Academy Wolverines to a dominating performance over Holderness School, 10-0 on Parents' Weekend. Martin collected five goals to go along with three assists for 13 points on the day.

Ryne Tillman (Medford, MA) came up big in the early minutes to prevent his team from a deficit once again. The Wolverines would respond to Tillman's defense by scoring ten consecutive unanswered goals for the second time in two games. Nick Christensen got the scoring started with a header on a corner kick from Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH). Palumbo then found the back of the net off of a ball played through by Martin. In the 30th minute Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH) made it 3-0 with an unassisted goal. Two minutes later Palumbo scored again with the assist once again going to Martin. Palumbo would return the favor in the 40th minute for Martin's first goal of the game, to enter the half up 5-0.

The second half was all Ethan Martin. Including the last two goals of the first half Martin played a part in the final seven goals of the game. In the 49th minute he assisted on Ronaldo Vieira's (Framingham, MA) goal. The next four goals were all scored by Martin with the first two assists going to Vieira, and unassisted goal and the final assist of the game went to Palumbo.

Bridgton out shot Holderness 19-5, Tillman collected five saves for his third shutout of the season. Martin finished with five goals and three assists, Palumbo had two goals and three assists and Vieira had a goal and two assists.

Bridgton has outscored its opponents 46-8 in 8 contests. Coach Mellon contributes alot of his teams success to Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) who, "opens up opportunities for others to get goals and get assists. He is one or two passes away from an assist, he draws defenders away from other players allowing them to get the looks."

Coming off of what Mellon called, "the best played game thus far, from beginning to end," the Wolverines will face back to back MAISAD opponents in Kents Hill, Wednesday and home against Hyde School at 3:30 on Saturday.

BA Downs Bowdoin JV for Second Time

2009-10-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

For the second time on the season Bridgton Academy defeated Bowdoin College JV. The first meeting the Wolverines won 4-0, they came up with a 10-1 victory this time.

Bowdoin would jump out to an early lead, scoring in just the second minute of the game, but from that point on it was all Bridgton. After the initial goal by Bowdoin, Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) would play a part in the next four goals, alternating between goals, and assists. Palumbo's first goal came 30 seconds after Bowdoin scored. He then assisted Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT), then scored on an assist from Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC). Palumbo returned the favor to Flynn in the 34th minute. Martin would close out the half with a goal to make the score 5-1 at the half.

The second half started much like the first ended with Paulmbo having a hand in the first four goals of the half. Scoring off of a Dillon Flynn assist in the 59th minute, assisting on an Ethan Martin score five minutes later. Bridgton also benefited from an own goal caused by a Rob Palumbo shot. The Palumbo to Martin combination connected one more time in the game to make the score 9-1. The scoring was capped of with Jamie White (New Orleans, LA) picking up his first points of the season with an assist to Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH).

Speaking of the game Coach Mellon said, "Once again we saw we were not prepared from the start, this is the second game in a row we have gotten down, it is something that needs to be addressed." Mellon was pleased with his teams ability to finish, "Ethan Martin is finishing like he can and Rob has bounced back to be very productive."

Rob Palumbo finished the day with three goals and four assists, Martin collected four goals, Khartabil and Flynn had a goal and an assist each. Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) and White each had a helper.

Photos from Holderness Game

2009-10-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

#3 Rob Palumbo clears the ball after a corner kick

#12 Josh Lombard sends the ball upfield

#11 Ethan Martin finds the back of the net

#7 Nick Christensen gets his head on the ball for a goal

Six Unanswered Goals Send BA to Victory

2009-09-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Bridgton Soccer matched its win total from a year ago in just its sixth contest of the year. The Wolverines picked up a 6-1 victory over Winchendon School for their fifth win this year. Standing at 5-0-1, the Wolverines are yet to lose a game this season, however found themselves in a situation they had not yet faced this year. Bridgton allowed the first goal of the game for the first time this season, however that was not until the second half of the game.

Entering the half the teams were tied 0-0, Ryne Tillman (Bedford, MA) kept the first half shutout intact by making a great save on a breakaway attempt in the tenth minute. The Wolverines were not without chances, they missed several opportunities as their inability to finish in the first half continued. During halftime Coach Mellon spoke to his team about the importance of coming to play right from the start. "Winchendon was another physical team, and made us realize that we are not invincible."

The second half started with Winchendon taking a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the half. From that point on it was all Black and Gray. BA went on to score six unanswered goals to win the game going away 6-1.

Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) got Bridgton on the board first as he was able to finish a pass from Omar Kharabil (Hampstead, NH). Four minutes later twin brother Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) scored off of an Ethan Martin (South Burlington, VT) pass. Martin was then on the receiving end of a pass from Rob Palumbo, which he volleyed into the top corner. Bridgton then scored three goals in nine minutes to finish the game off with a furry. Collecting goals were Steve Palumbo, Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA), and Martin in the 80th, 81st and 89th minute respectively. Vieira assisted on Steve Palumbo's second goal of the game as the other two went unassisted.

Ethan Martin finished the day with five points on two goals and an assist, his second consecutive game scoring two goals. Steve Palumbo collected two goals, his second consecutive game with at least one goal. Rob Palumbo had one goal and one assist, and Vieira collected three points on one goal and one assist.

"Once we adjusted to their style of play, we were able to stop what they were trying to do on offense and attack them," said Captain Steve Palumbo. "They were more skilled than other teams we have played, so once they scored we needed to step up."

Coming off a game in which the Wolverines edged out a 4-3 victory over Milton Academy, Assistant Coach Tom Bishop said the difference was, "our intensity, being down made us play harder and as soon as we scored in the second half we were a different team."

Bridgton has two home games this week, on Wednesday at 4:00PM against Bowdoin JV and then on Saturday at 3:30PM during Parents Weekend they take on Holderness School.

#7 Nick Christensen jumps for header

#3 Rob Palumbo crosses the ball

Ryne Tillman prepares for a corner kick

#8 Omar Khartabil beats a Winchendon defender

Martin's six-point day leads Bridgton past Milton

2009-09-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Ethan Martin, (South Burlington, VT) who played a hand in every Bridgton goal, capped a two goal, six point game with two second-half markers, as Bridgton got by Milton Academy 4-3.

Playing short handed for the entire first half, including having a forward in goal, the Wolverines were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes. In the third minute Dave Roberson (Fareham, England) buried a shot from 25 yards out off of a full volley clear from the Milton defense. Martin, collected the assist on the play. Just seven minutes later, Martin fed Steve Palumbo (Kingston, NH) who found the back of the net to give BA an early 2-0 lead. However, the Wolverines would allow Milton to climb back into the game, tying the score 2-2 at the half. Coach Mellon said of the first half, "once we got a lead, we sat back and allowed Milton to take advantage of our inexperienced goalie."

In the second half BA was at full strength, and Ethan Martin in the 60th minute found the back of the net on a pass from Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) who had returned to his usual forward position from playing keeper in the first half. Martin scored what would be the eventual game winner in the 80th minute on an assist from Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH).

Speaking of Martin's game Coach Mellon said, "It was a much needed game for Ethan, who has had some trouble finishing, it was a good game for his confidence, because he is a big part of our offense. It was great to see Steve (Palumbo) score today as well, because he has been having trouble finding his shots, and going forward will be a very important player for us."

With a few days before the Black and Grays' next game, it allows Mellon to focus on what he calls, "the tasks at hand, including individual aspects, and coming together on the pitch as a team."

The Bridgton Academy Wolverines have their home opener Sunday at 2:00 PM against Winchendon School, for the Traditions Cup, which Winchendon currently holds. Bridgton will look to recapture the Cup as Winchendon has outscored BA 14-1 in the last two meetings.

Wolverines Take Navy Prep 6-1

2009-09-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

In a game that provided a bit of redemption for last years lopsided loss, the 2009 Bridgton Academy soccer team traveled to Newport Rhode Island to take on Navy Prep in a game that went heavily in Bridgton's favor 6-1.

Rob Palumbo (Kingston, NH) had his second hat trick of the season, book marking the game with the first goal and last goal of the day. His first score came in the 6th minute off freekick assist from Omar Khartabil (Hampstead, NH) who caught the Navy keeper off gaurd. A short bit later Omar scored an unassisted goal in the 18th minute. Navy Prep put a ball in the back of the net in the 27th minute and the game went into half time 2-1.

Coming out of the half Rob Palumbo put Bridgton up 3-1 with a shot off a Dillon Flynn (Chapel Hill, NC) assist in the 58th minute. Less than five minutes later Khartabil put another shot in net, unassisted, in the 63rd minute. Less than ten minutes later Ronaldo Vieira (Framingham, MA) put a ball on Ethan Martin's (South Burlington, VT) foot which he put into the back of the net to put the game comfortably out of reach. Palumbo, however, wasn't done and again was the recipient of a nicely place ball by Vieira to finish the game 6-1 and with his second hat trick of the season.

Speaking about the game Coach Mellon said, "It was everything I expected it to be, having played them last year. A very physical game, which the refs lost control of early on. I am glad to be on the winning side this year."

Bridgton travels next to Milton Academy on September 23rd.