Mountain Valley scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of play en route to an 11-0 win over host Wiscasset Middle High School Friday evening in the soccer season opener.

Cam Chase scored what proved to be the only goal the Falcons needed less than three minutes into the game. Twenty-four seconds later Esphen Lunberg scored and then added at third goal at 31:50.

With a gusty breeze at Mt. Valley’s players’ backs, the visitors’ high-powered offense fired away at the net from all angles at the Wolverines’ veteran goalie Sam Strozier. With 28:48 left in the half, Maritz Wehrheim  scored, followed quickly by Seth Peaslee. The Falcons lit up the scoreboard again when Dalton Noyes headed the ball into the net off of Cameron Gallant’s corner kick. Gallant’s unassisted goal with 12:47 then made it a 9-0 ballgame.

The Wolverines were at a disadvantage from the outset when Mountain Valley won the toss and elected to go with the wind and late afternoon sun at players’ backs. Wiscasset was also minus five starters and could only field 11 players.

With no substitutes, Coach Chris Cossette was forced to pull players throughout the game for a much-needed breather leaving just 10 men on the field. The Wolverines still made several offensive drives in the first half but most stalled before the team could get a shot off. In the closing minutes before halftime Trinin Jeffery found Matt Chapman open with a long throw-in. Chapman headed the ball but it bounced wide of the net to the right of Falcon goalie Jacob Rosney.

The Wolverines played better on both sides of the field in the second half but suffered a loss when Chapman was roughed up on a play and had to temporarily leave the field. Junior Matt Smith, freshman Matt Eckert and sophomore Matt Jones played aggressively in the Wolverine backfield. Eckert stepped up big time in the game’s closing minutes by blocking and clearing away several Falcon shots.

Strozier finished the night off with between 18 and 20 saves. His punts and goal kicks averaged 40 yards into the wind and over 50 in the second half. One punt late in the game forced the Falcon keeper out of the net to make the stop.

Things should get easier for Wiscasset after school starts and more players return to the team from work and vacation. The Wolverines’ next game is Wednesday evening, Sept. 6 when they’ll host the Carrabec Cobras. The kickoff is set for 6 p.m.