Fort Fairfield Tigers Capture First State Title Since 2015 with 2-1 Win Over Monmouth Academy
HERMON — Last season, the Fort Fairfield boys soccer team came heartbreakingly close to winning a Gold Ball. This Saturday, the Tigers seized their second chance and emerged victorious.
A goal by senior Cayden Ala in the 69th minute broke a 1-1 tie, leading Fort Fairfield to a thrilling 2-1 win over Monmouth Academy in the Class D final at Pottle Field. This victory marks the program’s first state title since 2015.
The Tigers were making their second consecutive appearance in the state final, having fallen to Richmond 3-2 last year after allowing the game-winning goal with just 24 seconds remaining. Reflecting on the win, Ala said, “It feels absolutely surreal, it’s a dream come true. Ever since the final 30 seconds of that game, we wanted to be right here. Winning regionals was great, but we wanted this game, and this was the game that we got.”
In addition to Ala’s game-winning goal, Lucas Cormier also scored for Fort Fairfield (18-0-0), while Vincent Heibel provided an assist. Goalkeeper Levi Cole contributed two crucial saves to secure the victory.
The Mustangs finished their season with a 15-2-1 record. Their lone goal was netted by Bryce Fletcher, while goalie Gavin Parsons made two saves during the match.
Contrasting Styles on Display
The championship game showcased two distinct styles of play. Monmouth Academy employed a methodical possession game, patiently seeking open passing lanes to break down the Tigers’ defense. Meanwhile, Fort Fairfield relied on the speed of their forwards—particularly Ala, Heibel, and Cormier—to exploit space on breakaways.
“The contrast wasn’t as by design as we liked,” said Fort Fairfield head coach John Ala. “We definitely possessed the ball better throughout the season than we did tonight. We ended up falling into more of a defense, counter-attack scheme, which we were OK with because we had some quickness up top. We would have liked to possess more, but that’s a credit to Monmouth. They’re an incredible team and extremely well coached — kudos to them.”
Game Highlights
Monmouth Academy drew first blood 20 minutes into the game, as Fletcher found space in front of the Tigers’ net and knocked a shot past Cole to take a 1-0 lead.
Fort Fairfield responded quickly. Less than four minutes later, Cormier capitalized on a Heibel pass in front of the net, slotting the ball into the left corner to even the score at 1-1. The score remained tied through halftime.
“I just knew I had to be in the right spot, and I knew Vincent was dribbling through everybody — he’s a great player,” said Cormier, a junior. “I just needed to get into an open space for him to find me, and I was able to get the goal.”
While the Mustangs dominated possession in the second half, outshooting the Tigers 7-2, Ala seized a critical breakaway opportunity. He took a pass and found space down the middle of the field before firing a shot past Parsons to give Fort Fairfield a 2-1 lead.
“I already had an earlier scoring opportunity taken away by the keeper — he made a great save,” Ala said. “I knew I had to tuck this one away.”
In the final 10 minutes, Fort Fairfield deployed a defense-heavy formation, forcing Monmouth to take long-range shots that missed wide of the net.
Post-Game Reflections
“It was a great game, the fans got their money’s worth, didn’t they?” said Monmouth Academy head coach Joe Fletcher. “We knew they were good, we know we’re good. If we played 10 games, we’d win five. We had one defensive breakdown, but we had opportunities. I’m proud of my group—they played hard.”
At the final whistle, the Tigers sprinted across the field to their fan section near the grandstand, celebrating with community members proudly sporting red face paint and Tiger costumes.
“It’s a special community,” said John Ala. “We’re a small town but very close-knit, where sports are very important. I see this support every sports season. It’s a great town and a special community to be a part of.”
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/08/fort-fairfield-boys-soccer-edges-monmouth-for-class-d-title/
