If a July 2 game in Wiscasset was any indication, Hall-Dale will again be a strong contender for a Mountain Valley Conference title for the high school soccer season this fall. Wiscasset played hard but was no match for its older, more experienced guests.

Just moments after the opening kickoff, Hall-Dale’s front three carried the ball up the middle of the field and scored. They controlled the ball most of the game, unleashing a torrent of shots at Wiscasset goalie LJ Traver. Although pressed hard, Travers played a good game charging from the net to block or deflect multiple shots and making about a dozen saves.

The only advantage Wiscasset had was in the number of players. Assistant Coach Devin Grover, filling in for Chris Cossette, had 15 players on the sideline. Hall-Dale brought 11, just enough to field a team.

Ten minutes into the first 20-minute quarter, Wiscasset found itself down 2-nil. Around the same time, Hall-Dale drew a whistle for charging deep at its end of the field. The penalty gave Wiscasset a free kick just outside the 18-yard line. John Hodson drilled the ball low to the goal mouth but it was caught by the Hall-Dale keeper and punted away.

Travers with Josh Jones playing sweeper back between Billy Pinkham and Matt Eckert kept it a 2-0 ballgame until the last few seconds of the quarter. Hall-Dale then scored on a blast soaring into the back of the net from 40 yards away just as time expired, a bad break for the hosts.

Hall-Dale’s offense picked up the tempo from that point on until halftime; its speedy striker Camden Adam scored three times and picked up an assist.

Before the break, Wiscasset’s Chance Blagdon just missed ending the shutout. After taking possession of the ball, he carried it inside the penalty box and fired. Hall-Dale’s goalie was caught flat-footed but recovered it in time to make the save. The play nonetheless picked up Wiscasset’s spirits until halftime when both teams broke for a much needed break from the heat, 82F in the sun.

Last year, Hall-Dale finished its season 13-1; Wiscasset Middle High School was 6-8. The two MVC rivals will meet just once during the regular season for a night game on Sept. 16 hosted by Wiscasset.

Wiscasset still has four summer soccer games left. Next Tuesday, July 9, the team will travel to the community of China to play Erskine, then host Waterville the following Tuesday, host Messalonskee on July 23 and finish the season with an away game at Gardiner July 30.

A new rule takes effect in the fall. The official clock must now be stopped in a game’s final five minutes when substitutions are made by the team in the lead.

The rule was added to prevent coaches from using subs to run time off the clock.

A few minor changes were also made to the rule on drop balls, which referees use to resume play after the game is stopped.