Cony girls soccer surges past Lincoln in second half
Cony Rams rally to beat Lincoln Academy 2‑1 at Fuller Field
Augusta, Maine – In a dramatic Class B soccer showdown on Wednesday afternoon, the Cony Rams staged a comeback against the Lincoln Academy Eagles, earning a 2‑1 victory that could propel them into the playoffs and a potential home‑field game.
The Rams, now 8‑4‑1, trailed after the first half when Lincoln’s sophomore Dory Westhaver converted a corner‑kick scramble into the back of Cony’s net. Cony’s senior goalkeeper Charlotte Gearhart was left on the line after the goal, but the Rams did not let the early setback linger. Less than four minutes later, junior forward Kya Douin blasted a 17‑yard shot past Lincoln’s keeper Natalie Hanna, levelizing the score. Four minutes after that, Douin delivered a pinpoint cross to junior Riley Miller, who broke the line and tucked the ball past Hanna for the Rams’ second goal.
“After a scoreless first half, we had to find a way to keep the pressure,” Douin said from the sidelines. “We knew Lincoln was a strong team and we had to work hard in the last few practices and just grind it out.”
The Rams’ defense held firm in the second half, limiting Lincoln to just three shots on goal and allowing Cony to maintain its lead. Gearhart made six saves, while the rest of the backline played a disciplined game that kept the Eagles from mounting a comeback.
Coach Michael Sweeting, in his third season with Cony, praised his players’ resilience. “We’re not just a boot‑it‑and‑run team anymore. We still play forward fast, we still try to be aggressive, but it’s with a purpose now,” Sweeting told the press. “It looks like we’re going to have a home playoff game next week, and it’s been a minimum of 16 years since the program has had that.”
Cony’s record of 8‑4‑1 places the Rams in a tight title race with Hermon, Skowhegan and Belfast for fourth place in the Class B North Heal points standings. After a rocky start to the season, including three losses in the first four games, the team has found its footing and is riding a two‑game winning streak, having defeated Class B North rival Erskine Academy and tied Class C South contender Hall‑Dale.
The game also featured the senior‑day honors for goalkeeper Charlotte Gearhart and midfielder Kelsie Huard, two players who have been key contributors all season.
With a win on its record, Cony has secured a spot in the postseason. Whether they’ll host a preliminary‑round game remains to be confirmed, but the Rams’ momentum suggests a promising finish to the season.
— Maine News Now
