Mt. Abram senior Jim Barker moves the ball past a Mt. Blue defender last Thursday in preseason scrimmage action. (David Hart photo)
V: Mt. Abram, 2 — Mt. Blue, 1
JV: Mt. Blue, 3 — Mt. Abram, 1

SALEM — The Mt. Abram boys' varsity and junior varsity soccer teams hosted scrimmage games with Mt. Blue last Thursday, Aug. 27.

In varsity action, after hitting the posts throughout most of the first half, MTA's Ian Daly and Jim Barker found their shots in the second half for a 2-1 win.

Midway into the first half, Mt. Blue's Sam Charles fed a corner kick in front that was picked up off the head of Griffin Conlogue for the score and a 1-0 advantage.

Just 20 seconds into the second half Barker fed Daly on the nearside who shot to the far side post. This ball also hit the post, but this time it deflected in to even the score at one.

Barker had another bounce off the crossbar in the second before he found a pass offered by senior teammate Dylan Tisor that created a breakaway. Barker's shot proved to be the game winner. Tisor was credited with the assist.

Mt. Abram sophomore Noah Zanella brings the ball down the field in a JV game on Friday against Mt. Blue. (Heidi Murphy photo) A late surge with five minutes remaining put pressure on the Roadrunner defense, but keeper Josh Beedy and the rest of the MTA defenders were able to hold them off.

In JV action, Mt. Blue took a 3-1 advantage after Cougar's Josh Carlson, Dylan Stinchfield and Sam Richards all found the back of the net. Credited with Mt. Blue assists were, Griffin Conlogue and Ryan Flanagan.

The MTA soccer season will kick off this Friday, Sept. 4 with boys' and girls' varsity home opening games against Lisbon. The girls' game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start followed by boys' action at 6 p.m.

The varsity boys will travel to Livermore on Tuesday, Sept. 8 before they return home on Saturday Sept. 12 for a 3 p.m. start with Carrabec.

The Lady Roadrunners varsity and jv teams will visit Carrabec on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the varsity starting at 4:00 p.m and the jv at 6:00. They return home on Friday, Sept. 11 to take on Mountain Valley. A varsity game will start under the lights at MTA at 7 p.m. with JV action commencing at 5 p.m.