Showing posts with label Ashley Clark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashley Clark. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Windham’s Thornton to play college soccer for UMaine-Orono

By Matt Pascarella

In front of friends, family, teachers, coaches, and other supporters, senior Abbey Thornton signed a letter of intent at Windham High School on Nov. 18 to attend the University of Maine Orono on a scholarship to play Division 1 soccer for the Black Bears and major in nursing.

Thornton recently broke Windham High School’s record when she scored 34 goals in a season. With all the success she has had over her high school soccer career, you might never know it as Thornton is very humble.

Jill Thornton, left, Troy Thornton and Tyler Thornton
watch as Windham High senior Abbey Thornton signs
her letter of intent on Nov. 18 to play Division 1 women's
soccer for the University of Maine-Orono.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA   
She made the All-State team, was the Southern Maine Activities Association’s Offensive Player of the Year, All-New England team and the Class A Player of the Year, just to name a few of her accomplishments during her time playing for the Windham High School varsity girls’ soccer team.

It felt really good for Thornton to sign her national letter of intent. It was satisfying and rewarding for her with all the hard work she’s put into the sport, she’s happy to have reached this point.

Like many athletes, she began playing soccer when she was very little. Her brother and her cousin already played, so Thornton followed their lead. She began at the recreation level and from there a passion was ignited which made soccer a part of Thornton’s life and one which she is excited to continue to pursue.

“Abbey would never tell you ‘I am the best soccer player.’ She’s been a standout since her freshman year,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel. “She’s been playing center midfield – the strongest position – and really led our team to states last year and a really great season this year.”

Lebel said Thornton will bring a strong work ethic to UMO. She’s quiet but will be a consistent hard worker every day and someone who is super talented, can play all over the field and should be able to score some goals for them.

Lebel is excited she’s staying in Maine because there are many little girls in the community who are excited to see a Windham athlete play at the Division 1 level.

The atmosphere at UMO is what drew Thornton to the school. She likes the program the women’s soccer head coach Scott Atherley has created; it’s just like a family.

Windham senior and teammate Ashley Clark has played with Thornton since they were 10. They’ve played both travel soccer and high school soccer together.

“She’s selfless on the field, a great friend and a great teammate,” said Clark. “Obviously she’s incredibly skilled, she finishes, she passes well; she’s amazing.”

Thornton would like to thank everyone in her life who helped her reach this accomplishment.

Windham High School gave Thornton the chance to play with her best friends and taught her that in the end, soccer is all about having fun. She says that she’s looking forward to continuing to play a game she loves so much. <

Friday, October 28, 2022

Girls’ soccer advances with quarterfinal win over Thornton Academy

By Matt Pascarella

A thick fog surrounded the field and a very, very faint mist was coming down during the Class A South quarterfinal girls’ soccer playoff game at Windham High on Tuesday, Oct. 25 against Thornton Academy.  No. 3 Windham did not let the fact that No. 6 Thornton Academy jumped to a 1-0 lead early in the game diminish their hunger for a win as the Lady Eagles banded together and came back to tie the game, then passed the Trojans and won 6-2 after the final buzzer.

Windham senior Abbey Thornton takes a shot at the goal
during the first half of the Class A South quarterfinal 
girls' soccer playoff match on Tuesday, Oct. 25 against
Thornton Academy at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 
“We came out flat,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel. “I think that one goal [which tied the game 1-1] gave us a little motivation. Once we started connecting with each other and that’s when we’ve said good things happen ... when we connect, it’s really hard to defend and I feel like that’s when we got things going.”

Windham varsity girls’ soccer assistant coach Jim Stewart said they played with an incredible confidence. When those connections are made, then it goes together like mad, Windham had three goals in just a few minutes during the first half.

Both Lebel and Stewart said there are many players contributing, not just the ones who scored goals. Players like sophomore Stella Jarvais, freshman Nola Bryant and senior Liz Levesque – just to name a few. This team is in a great place, wants to play and have made large improvements since the start of the season.

Halfway through the first half, Windham senior Liz Talbot tied the game 1-1 assisted by Levesque. After that, Windham showed they would not be caught this game.

Not 10 minutes later, senior Abbey Thornton scored assisted by senior Ashley Clark. Talbot scored again. Windham continued to pressure and at the half, led 3-1.

“I was really pumped for the first playoff game,” said Talbot. “I think we started kind of slow, but ... [the first goal] motivated us to push forward, because we all really wanted it. Our energy levels did go up a lot and we did good playing off in the back and moving it forward, we got a lot of good crosses and one-two passes in.”

Windham continued to pressure in the second half and Lady Eagle defense kept Thornton Academy’s goals to a minimum. Windham senior goalie Reilly Russell had a total of eight saves. Abbey Thornton would score twice in the second half, once assisted by sophomore Kyla Harvie and once assisted by Talbot. Harvie fired a shot at net and when Thornton Academy defense tried to stop it, they knocked it into their own goal.

Thornton Academy did score with about a minute left in the game, but it was too late for them; by then Windham had made it impossible for the Trojans to catch up.

“It was one of the last times we will play on this [home] field as seniors, so I just enjoyed this moment with my best friends and play soccer,” said Thornton.

Thornton said the team is resilient and did not get down after that first goal. Thornton plans to keep playing her hardest as Windham moves onto the semifinals.

Windham will play No. 2 Gorham in the Class A semifinal at Gorham High School on Friday, Oct. 28.

Lebel said they are much better than the first time they played the Rams; they’ve made a few adjustments and they are going to see that come out. <

Friday, June 17, 2022

Windham girls’ lacrosse ends season on high note

Windham varsity sophomore Mallory Muse makes her way
toward the goal during  the Class A North girls' lacrosse
semifinal game at Falmouth High School on June 11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA
By Matt Pascarella

The Windham girls’ lacrosse team ended their regular season with a record of 7-5, falling to Falmouth, 12-7, in the Class A North semifinal on Saturday, June 11 at Falmouth.

The third-ranked Lady Eagles had reached the semifinals by defeating sixth-ranked Lewiston, 17-3, in the Class A North quarterfinal.

Windham put in a solid effort against Falmouth but fell just short of advancing to the Class A North title game.

“Last time we played them in the regular season it was not our best game,” said Windham senior Isabelle Babb. “We knew this time we could show them we could keep up with them.”

Babb said Windham was able to keep their heads up early in the game when Falmouth was a few goals ahead because Windham knew they would score if they took their time.

It was Babb who put Windham on the scoreboard in the first half when she scored back-to-back goals.

Windham increased their defense. Sophomore Mallory Muse scored; then Babb put another between the pipes. At the half, Falmouth led 8-4.

“We knew we had to come out and try our hardest, get every ground ball, little things that we knew we could do,” said Windham junior Ashley Clark.

Clark said Windham wanted to show Falmouth they were a team that would be hard to beat.

And Windham did that in the second half. Clark flipped the ball into the net early in the half. Then Babb scored, then freshman Grace Joly scored assisted by senior Molly Black.

Windham defense blocked a couple shots and slowed down Falmouth’s offense in the second half.

Clark and Babb both agreed they showed Falmouth they weren’t to be underestimated.

“Falmouth is a very, very well-rounded team ... really pleased with our guys and our effort, they really worked hard,” said Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins. “We drastically improved all year long; one thing we love about this program is we get kids who really, really work hard and I’m really pleased with their efforts.”

Windham had had only three returning players this season. They had several new players who had never played before. They had six starters this year who were in just their second season playing.

Perkins said Windham did much better on the draw and cleaned up some things there, which improved their chances during the game. Windham didn’t give up; they’re a tough team.

He said Windham was a great group all season and is pleased with the senior class. Perkins thought they did a great job leading and a really good job pushing everyone to do things right. <