By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU — The eight seniors from last year are gone, but eight starters are back from the Caribou boys’ 2012 team that went 10-5-1 overall, placing fourth in the Eastern Maine Class B standings, beating Presque Isle in the quarterfinals and losing to Ellsworth in the semis.
The Vikings will particularly miss three players who played key roles in striker Nolan McDuffie, who was the team’s leading scorer; center midfielder Dean Walker, who led the team in assists; and wing back Sean Barbosa, a reliable defender.
However, Caribou returns plenty of talent and is bolstered by a solid senior class.
Matt Manter is back for his third season as the starting goalkeeper, while center back Breen Blackstone could be one of the top defensive players in the Penobscot Valley Conference. Matt Frost brings a physical style to the center back position.
Midfielders Cody Herbert and Matt Milliard are talented two-way players who work very hard. Third-year coach Scott Hunter said Milliard “has a tenacity rarely seen and the ability to control a game from the midfield.” Forward Kameron Manter is a skilled and creative striker and veteran Adam Collins seems to possess a nose for the goal.
Three juniors and a sophomore round out the starting lineup. Junior back Taylor Thibodeau brings experience, speed and skills to the defense and junior wing Colby Holdsworth has demonstrated that he can be a dangerous scoring threat. Barbosa’s replacement on the back line is junior Austin Griffeth.
The coach said sophomore midfielder Michael Hunter, who also happens to be his son, saw significant action a year ago and “has emerged as a player with very good ball skills and a great ability to read the play.”
For reserves, sophomore Ethan Plourde is Manter’s backup in goal, junior Dustin Bouchard will fill in at left wing, sophomore Hunter Milliard is the team’s fastest player and will play up front and along the back, sophomore exchange student Emilio Garcia should earn minutes both up front and at midfield and sophomore Paul Hanson will provide depth at center back with is ability to win balls in the air.
“Our team speed is an asset that we need to use to our advantage and has been a positive thus far,” coach Hunter said. “We have also worked hard since I started coaching at improving our individual ball skills and we have seen that as a strength in playing a possession-type game.”
Hunter added that the team will need to work on improving its midfield and defensive play, as well as finishing on scoring chances.
“Getting used to playing as a unit as the new players intergrate into their positions” is another key factor, according to the coach.
The coach likes the makeup of his veteran squad and believes last year’s success helped set a precedent for this year and beyond.
“They know what it takes to be successful,” Hunter said. “We’ll need to stay focused and committed as a team, and remain healthy, but we should be near the top [of the standings] at the end of the season.”
