SALEM -– “The only positive part of the season ending is that you are one day closer to the next season beginning,” said Mt. Abram boys’ varsity coach Mark Lopez.

“You never want the season to be over. You always want to be the last team playing. Only one team can end their season on a winning note. Everybody else has to lose. So you’re never really ready to be done.”

Lopez said in a post season interview that his kids were a special group of kids and he really credited his seniors.

The seniors will certainly be missed. Devin Littlefield came to mind for hard work, dedication and love for the game. Jim Barker, Dylan Tisor, Kenny Moir, Mark Wahl and Derek Allen were also so dedicated, he said. “Many of them are the first kids I’ve coached and I’m sad to see them go. Jake Carlton, Ian Daly and Joey Lampron were solid for me and they’ll be greatly missed along with other seniors, he explained.

“I thought the fortitude my team showed in the form of leadership was exceptional.” He pointed to the season opener where Tisor took a major leadership role, after a 1-0 loss to Lisbon.

Lopez also pointed to the second Dirigo game where they tied the game against one of the best teams on the schedule. “My senior leadership, Tisor, Daly, Barker, Carlton and all those kids did so well.”

The leadership shown by his senior class is one of the reasons why Lopez carried so many sophomores this year.

“I wanted to make sure that the seniors can pass on the legacy of Darren Allen soccer or Mt. Abram soccer to the sophomores for the next two years.” This, he explained to his sophomores was more important than playing time.

Coach said that he thought his defense played exceptionally well and they kept them in most every game. A lot had to do with his young sophomore goal keeper Josh Beedy who kept the ball out of the net. “Posting seven shutouts and losing four games 1-0 …what a tremendous benefit to a coach,”

“The defense we put together was quite strong so every time we took the field we had a chance of being successful.” Carlton was the everyday sweeper, with Tisor playing the stop. Daly was in the center as a midfielder with Barker in the middle up front. We had a very strong mid-field game, he said.

“I think we did progress overall, but the one thing that was a killer for us was our inability to score.” Moir led the team in scoring goals with 11, but Barker led in points with seven goals and seven assists. “Barker was consistent after taking a year off, but others had trouble finding the back of the net. I knew going into the season that the lack of scoring was going to be a problem for us. We were shut out five times,” Lopez explained.

If his team scored just one goal, these four loses could have been ties or wins, he said.

The final post season game where the Roadrunners traveled to Wiscasset was not a true form of their ability. The 3-0 loss was not really a good indication of how it was played, coach said. They arrived on a wet and slippery field on which Wiscasset plays very well as their record indicates.

The first goal was scored after the MTA keeper slipped and fell. The second, Lopez admits, may have been an over-aggressive move on his part by moving his sweeper up too early. At that time the game was essentially over.

“Put us on the field again with these guys, and I like our chances,” he said.

The 9-4-1 Roadrunners will have three returning seniors next year. Will London did a great job off the bench as well as junior Kyle Matthews and Jamey Howard, he said.

Much of that team will consist of the large sophomore class next year.

Coulin Logan, who scored two very big goals this season, Ben Listowich, Parker Kennedy and Alex LaRochelle were mentioned as having a good year. “They were a pleasant surprise being so young off the bench and being able to contribute.”

“Were going to have to be very young next year and going to put a lot of juniors on the field. Very few are proven to play. Next year we may be just as successful as this year, but the question will be, who’s improved and who will really stand out. There are kids who will have to sink or swim because they’ll be asked to pull the wagon next year not ride in it.”

Next year is a real mystery as to what will unfold, he said. “To me, we’ll be young and unproven.”

With this year’s eighth graders and what’s behind them, Lopez feels that the following year and years ahead, Mt. Abram soccer will keep getting stronger and stronger.

Lopez said he was thankful for his fellow MTA coaches who were great soundboards and especially grateful for Athletic Director Jeff Pillsbury who he said was tireless. “It is amazing what he does behind the scenes.”

Coach Lopez went out of his way to express his appreciation for school board director Ann Schwink.

Before the final game of the season, there was much talk about forfeiting the game due to an H1N1 crisis in Wiscasset.

“I’d like to thank Dr. Schwink for doing the research on the virus and talking to the state epidemiologist and getting the facts straight so that the school board could make an informed decision. This decision allowed my seniors to finish off their senior soccer year.” Lopez also credited Pillsbury for seeing them get their game in.

“Granted it was a 3-0 loss, but I think it would have been much worse for the team if we forfeited,” he said.

Lastly, Lopez said, “Obviously you can’t say enough about the boosters and all that they do.”