BATH – A healthy contingent of Scarborough fans made the drive to Bath Saturday to see the Red Storm take on Mt. Ararat for the Class A boys state soccer championship.
The bleachers on one side of the field were filled with a vocal bunch of students, while the opposite side seemed to be populated with the players’ family members, no less into the game, though not quite as rambunctious.
Way up, standing in the back row, was Rich Poulin, the father of Scarborough goalkeeper Derek Poulin. It was certainly not an enviable position to be in – the parent of a keeper during the second half of a scoreless championship game.
“I wish they had a goal right now,” Poulin said. “Scarborough is taking it to them, but they’ve got nothing on the scoreboard to show for it.”
His son being a senior, Poulin said that he had mixed feelings about the game – it’s an accomplishment, but also the end of a high school career.
“I hope that he goes out a state champ,” the proud dad said, “but as long as he does his best, that’s all that matters.”
Poulin then added, presciently, “I like our chances. Especially if we go to a shootout.”
Sharon Sabo was at least able to sit during the action. However, the mother of Red Storm senior Taylor Sabo did admit that she was feeling a little more tense than normal.
“I’m not typically nervous,” she said, “but I’m nervous for this game.”
Noting that her son is passionate about soccer, Sabo said that he was planning to stick with the sport in college. Then she turned her attention back to the action.
“They’re playing great. I’m really proud of him.”
Not far away, Taylor’s step-sister Jacki Cone-Auslender and her friend Tina Lemieux sat, looking anxious as well. Both girls are freshmen at Thornton Academy.
“I’m not a soccer person,” said Lemieux, “but I’m getting wicked into it.”
At the very end of the bleachers, another TA student, Chad Boucher, looked on quietly. The junior is a midfielder for the Golden Trojans, but was at McMann Field to see Scarborough play. He has friends on the team.
“I love watching them. They’re a really solid team,” he said. “They play the ball well. They’ve got it all.”
Back in September Boucher got to play against the guys he knows when the Red Storm traveled down to Saco to face Thornton.
“We didn’t do too well. We lost 4-0.”
Midway through Saturday’s championship, Boucher felt that Scarborough had Mt. Ararat on their heels. Still, he wasn’t sure that anyone would be able to score in regulation.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes into overtime,” he said. “That’ll be intense.”
Across the field, near the students, were a group of youngsters, many in red Scarborough youth soccer jerseys. No doubt that some of them were daydreaming of the day that they could take the field for a game like this.
For now, they watched the Red Storm battle, and at least one of them was confident in the outcome.
“We’re going to see Scarborough win,” said Mitchell Rand.
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