Wiscasset Middle High School renewed an old rivalry when the Wolverines boys hosted Richmond High School in the final preseason soccer game Monday evening. A good-sized crowd was on hand for the game won by the Bobcats 3-0.

The Wolverines started with a gusty, fall-like breeze at their backs, but it was the visitors who dominated the first 40 minutes of play. At the 30:13 mark, Cody Tribbett netted what turned out to be the only goal the visitors needed.

Wiscasset responded to the score by driving deep into Richmond territory. After a Bobcat defender lost possession of the ball out-of-bounds, Ethan James’s throw-in from the sideline carried 30 yards to the goal mouth but Josh Jones’s shot was caught by Bobcat keeper Isaac Cappen.

Two minutes later, it was Richmond’s turn. A Bobcat player broke free in the Wolverine backfield and rung a shot off the goal post. Later Wiscasset’s Max Sampson had a nice shot but Cappen was once again there for the save.

With 8:07 left before the half, Justin Vachon put the Bobcats ahead 2-0 when he headed a cross pass into the corner of the net. Wiscasset goalie Sam Strozier had no chance to make the save.

Richmond had another scoring opportunity with 3:40 left after WMHS was whistled for an infraction (charging) just outside the penalty area. The Richmond player fired low to the post but Strozier made a nice save and cleared the ball down field.

No official scorebook was kept, but the Bobcats clearly outshot the Wolverines in the first half.

With the wind advantage, Richmond controlled the tempo in the opening minutes of the second half. Zach Small made it a 3-0 game at 26:26 with an unassisted score.

At the 19:00 mark, a Bobcat player broke free, carrying the ball down the middle of the field with Kevin Lynch in pursuit. The shot that followed was high, hitting the cross bar and bouncing out of bounds.

With a little over five minutes left to play, Wiscasset’s Brandon Goud booted a pass from the right side off the crossbar and into the net. Unfortunately, the score was whistled off by the referee for an off-sides violation.

Max Sampson then fired a nice shot but Cappen was there again for the save.  In the final minute, Wiscasset got two more shots off. Nate Woodman missed from inside the 18-yard line and Russell Marr followed with a nice shot the goalie batted wide of the net.

Cappen, who had played so well in the Bobcat net, suffered a shoulder injury in the closing minutes and had to leave the game.

Following the game, Wolverines Coach Chris Cossette said his younger players got a lot of valuable game experience.

“We didn’t have all of our guys here tonight which meant we had to move players around into positions they weren’t used to playing,” he said.

WMHS opens the Mountain Valley Conference season with a home game against Carrabec Sept. 6. The game will be played under the lights beginning at 7 p.m. On Sept. 10, the Wolverines will host Hall-Dale at 6 p.m.