The Wolverine boys soccer team returned to the soccer field last Friday night tying 2-2 with Temple Academy. The 40-minute scrimmage game was played under the lights at Wiscasset Middle High School.

Coach Chris Cossette’s charges rallied back for the tie after spotting the visiting Bereans from Waterville two goals in the first 25 minutes of action. Temple’s first goal, unassisted, came eight minutes after the opening kickoff. Temple went up 2-0 just a few minutes later.

With 10:22 left until halftime, Rowan Kristan rebounded a loose ball after it deflected off a Temple defender and Kristan scored for the Wolverines. Kristan is one of six players who have joined the WMHS team from Boothbay Region High School.

Four minutes later, senior Andre Espeut, another BRHS recruit, booted the ball into the net from 20 yards away and tied the game, which ended at halftime.

Wolverine keeper Caleb Gabriele recorded three saves; Temple’s goalie had about the same number of stops.

Although the teams only played one half, Cossette managed to get all of his players some playing time.

“Things are starting to come together and I expect to have my starting roster in place after we scrimmage Richmond High School Tuesday,” he said.

The Maine Principals Association has made two changes to the soccer rules for the upcoming season. The team kicking off is now allowed to be on the defensive side of the playing field. Last year, the MPA changed the rules allowing teams to score directly on a kickoff; previously, the ball had to have two touches.  The referees will be stricter this season on unsportsmanlike behavior. Tripping infractions inside the penalty area will result in an automatic yellow card.

Another change is the home team is now required to wear its dark jersey instead of its lighter one, the opposite of what’s been required.

The Wolverines open the Mountain Valley Conference season at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at Mountain Valley High School.

This year’s team includes 10 seniors, three from BRHS. The returnees include Matt Chapman, the Gabriele brothers Caleb and Josh, Chris Loyola, Matt Smith and Haidan Dunning. The BRHS seniors are Bayly Gaughan-Carrasco, Tim Shapplie and Andrea Espeut.

Juniors are Josh Jones and three more BRHS players, John Pray, Rowan Kristan and Jordan Espeut. About 10 underclassmen complete the roster.