Mt. Ararat girls soccer rolls to win over an Edward Little team in transition

Edward Little’s Girls Soccer Team Loses 8‑0 as New Interim Coach Faces Immediate Challenge

AUBURN, Me. – In an abrupt shift on the sidelines, Edward Little High School’s girls soccer squad suffered a lopsided 8‑0 defeat to Mt. Ararat on Thursday, marking the first game coached by the school’s athletic director, Brant Remington, in his new interim role.

A Sudden Change of Guard

Tyler Shennett, who had guided the Red Eddies through a 2‑12 season last year, departed the program on Tuesday, citing a personal leave of absence. “It’s a personal leave of absence,” Remington said. “The principal (Valerie Ackley) and superintendent (Dr. Sue Dorris) just felt it was easiest for me to run the program, as I have experience.”

Remington, who assumed the athletic director position earlier this year after a six‑year tenure as the AD at Maranacook Community High School, stepped in at the eleventh hour. His background includes coaching girls soccer and lacrosse at Lewiston High School, giving him a deep familiarity with the sport and the community.

“He’s no stranger to the pitch,” said one assistant coach. “He was the athletic director at Maranacook and coached girls soccer and lacrosse before. He only had one practice with us before the game, but he’s been helping us from the sidelines.”

Assistant coaches Ben Shatto and Ella Boucher, who had remained on staff after Shennett’s exit, were present and assisted Remington during the match.

The Game

The match took place at Edward Little’s home field in Auburn, with the Red Eddies facing the Class A North power Mt. Ararat, the Eagles, who entered the game on a 4‑0 run and were ranked fifth in the Varsity Maine poll.

Mt. Ararat took an early lead, scoring three goals before halftime. In the second half, the Eagles added five more, bringing the final score to 8‑0. They dominated possession, outshot the Red Eddies 15‑7, and capitalized on a series of set‑piece opportunities. One of the most notable was a corner kick from senior forward Katherine Therriault that found junior midfielder Izabelle O’Banyel, who redirected the ball into the net.

“We had eight seniors starting last year, so we didn’t know what the start of this season was going to look like,” Therriault, one of the Eagles’ four captains, said. “I’m really proud of the team.”

Freshman midfielder MacKenna Trockman, who has already scored four goals in the first four games, also opened the scoring Thursday with a strike from 18 yards out.

“We’re optimistic and positive about the rest of the way,” Remington said after the game. “They knew Ararat was good, they’re going to be right up there with Camden Hills. It’s the first game with me. I think they’re optimistic and positive about the rest of the way, and hopefully they can keep it going.”

Player Performances

Mt. Ararat’s statistical leaders included O’Banyel with two goals, Ella Woodbrey with two assists, and goalkeeper Morgan Crawford, who made seven saves for a shutout. For Edward Little, goalkeeper Alivia Davis made six saves, the most in the game, but the team was unable to halt the onslaught.

Coaching perspective from Mt. Ararat’s head coach Kevin Flaherty highlighted the team’s clinical finishing: “It’s been a great start. It’s the first time since I’ve been here, in my four years, where we’ve started 4‑0. We talked about being clinical in the final third, and I thought we were. The opportunities we had, we capitalized on it.”

Looking Ahead

The loss places Edward Little at 2‑3 for the season, while Mt. Ararat improves to 5‑0. With a new interim coach and a roster that includes fresh talent and seasoned players, the Red Eddies face an uphill battle as the season progresses.

Remington, who is still acclimating to the role, emphasized the importance of culture and positivity. “It was really talking about culture and positivity,” he said. “We’ve worked out some kinks and learned what people do. We’re hopeful about the rest of the season.”

As the Red Eddies regroup, the school’s leadership hopes to build on the experience of this tough first game under Remington’s guidance and to lay the foundation for a more competitive season.