TOPSHAM

Scoring more than one or two goals in a game has been rare for the Mt. Ararat High School boys soccer team this season.

On Tuesday night, the Eagles put four balls into the back of the net as they downed Morse, 4-0 in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference matchup.

The win lifted Mt. Ararat to 5-3-2, with talented Lewiston (8-1-2) set to visit on Thursday night. Morse fell to 1-9-1 and doesn’t play again until next Tuesday afternoon when it hosts Maranacook.

Just 39 seconds into the contest, the Eagles were already forcing themselves into Morse territory, nearly netting a goal when Cole Kelly took a cross from Mason Brigham and kicked it over the cage.

With a little over 32 minutes remaining in the half, Nick Merrill lofted a high ball towards the net in front of Shipbuilders goalie Miles Bobbe. The ball hit the hard ground and bounced over the goalie where Ethan Rac got his head on it and tapped it in for the score.

“It’s been a collective effort in scoring. We’ve played five or six games now without Travis (Nadeau, Eagles’ leading scorer, out with an injury) and someone seems to pick us up,” said Mt. Ararat coach Jack Rioux.

Another attempt went by the boards for the Eagles when Dalton Streeter’s throw-in from the sidelines reached the goal, but Hayden Libby’s header went over the top bar.

Streeter and Kody Noyes anchored the defense for the home team. The two defenders helped keep Morse from getting any shots not only on goal, but also in the general direction of the net. The Shipbuilders did not take a shot until 17 minutes into the half, and that shot sailed left.

“I think our defense has been solid lately. We’ve stepped it up since Travis has been out. We’ve become more defensive minded,” said Mt. Ararat goalie Gavin Patterson.

With roughly 16 minutes remaining, Rac drove towards the net, carrying the ball inside the 18-yard line, but Andrew Barber broke up the play before Rac was able to get a shot off. Two minutes later, Rac left-footed a ball that yet again sailed over the cage.

Despite being outshot 15-1 in the first half, the visitors hung with the Eagles and only trailed 1-0 at the break.

“They have a good team. They are a respectable program and to stay with them for a bit I thought was great,” said Morse coach Chuck Reece. “We’re battling some injuries right now so we’re dealing with them.”

Rac again

Rac struck again eight minutes into the half. The junior forward took a pass from Brigham and pushed it past Bobbe for his second score of the game.

Kelly hit the crossbar a couple of minutes later and Rac picked up the rebound and over the net.

“We didn’t go a great job, especially in the first half, putting the ball on the frame,” said Rioux. “When we do that, we hope to get a second chance or a rebound. Their goalie made some great saves in the second half.”

Nick Merrill made it 3-0 when the senior took a corner kick from Max Spelke and pushed it across for the score.

As the Eagles continued legging the ball at Bobbe, the junior netminder continued making saves, keeping his team in the game. Another pair of saves, including a dive on an Eagle shot with 18 minutes left kept the game at three goals.

“Our defense has heart. We break down sometimes but these guys battle hard in front of the net,” said Bobbe.

“He’s all heart and works real hard. He’s only a junior and will be making his own mark soon enough,” added Reece.

Morse’s best opportunity to score came with under 17 minutes remaining. After the Shipbuilders fired a shot on net, Patterson thought the ball was going over his head and out of play. But once he realized the shots wasn’t going to go over completely, he stuck his arms up to knock the ball down. A scrum at his feet ensued, but the senior came up with the ball to preserve the shutout.

“Once I realized it wasn’t going over the net, I blocked it,” said the senior goalie. “Once it fell to the ground, once of their players went for it, but I was able to get a foot on it and smother it.”

Freshman Sebastian Scherry rounded out the scoring for Mt. Ararat, tallying an unassisted goal with 11:30 remaining.

Morse didn’t give in and continued to play hard up to the final whistle. Mt. Ararat outshot the Shipbuilders, 28- 3, and held a 7-0 advantage in corners.

Patterson made one save, while Bobbe turned away 13 shots in the loss.

Mt. Ararat 4, Morse 0

At Mt. Ararat High School

Goals — (MtA) Ethan Rac 2, Nick Merrill, Sebastian Scherry. Assists — (MtA) Nick Merrill, Mason Brigham, Max Spelke. Shots — Mt. Ararat 28, Morse 3. Saves — (Mo) Miles Bobbe 13, (MtA) Gavin Patterson 1. Corner kicks — Mt. Ararat 7, Morse 0. Records — Mt. Ararat 5-3-2, Morse 1-9-1. Up next for the Shipbuilders — Tuesday at home against Maranacook at 3:30 p.m. Up next for the Eagles — Thursday at home against Lewiston at 7 p.m.