Local Soccer Team Captures Elusive State Championship

The Bronco Travel Soccer Club U12 championship team: Front row - Sean McGuire, Cameron Scott, Kyle Townsend, Eric Armstrong, Jordan Dysart, Nick Chasse. Middle row - Nick Gilpin, Ryan Gideon, Paxton Oversmith, Jackson Gilmore, Wil Mekelburg, Brandon Chasse
Back Row - Coach Gerry Chasse, Jake Black, Drew Gilmore, Tyler Arbo, Zach Boss, Coach MJ Ball (Photo courtesy of MJ Ball)

The Bronco Travel Soccer Club's U12 Boys won the State Championship tournament in Portland with a convincing 3-0 win over Falmouth after knocking off Yarmouth 5-2 in the semi-final round. The team, coached by MJ Ball, Gerry Chasse and Patsy
Oversmith, finished the season with an overall record of 20-2-1.

This is the first time the Bronco Travel Soccer Club, based out of Hampden, has produced a state champion and only the second time an eastern team has won the title. Bangor Soccer Club's U14 Boys coached by Gary George captured the crown three years ago. Those boys just finished a great season playing for the Eastern Maine Champion - Bangor Rams.

What makes this team's success even more amazing is that they are all playing up a year or two. There are 14 players on the roster with two players who are true U10's and the rest are true U11's. "This is a great group of players and parents. As
coaches, we are very lucky to have such dedicated and talented players. They work hard and it shows in the success of their games," comments Coach Ball. "To win the championship in your age group is one thing, but to win it playing up a bracket
where the challenges are even more difficult is something special. These boys will remember this for the rest of their lives and really showed that Eastern Maine soccer has a bright future."