MALE:

MATT CROWLEY, Senior-Soccer

• Class B Player of the Year

• All-State

• Western B regional all-star

• WMC all-star, Class A/B first-team

• Captain

Like his team, Crowley hadn’t necessarily gotten the praise he deserved during the regular season, but with the lights the brightest, he (and the Rangers) stole the show.

Crowley scored the biggest goal of his life to produce an epic upset victory in the regional final, then helped Greely put the finishing touches on a fairy tale run in the state game, putting an ideal exclamation point on a memorable season and career.

Crowley grew up in Cumberland and fell in love with soccer at a young age. He joined the Rangers varsity as a reserve as a freshman, assisting on three goals. As a sophomore, Crowley played center-mid and scored twice while adding a pair of assists, making an appearance on the all-conference team. As a junior, he scored once and had four assists and was an all-conference and all-region selection.

This fall, Crowley had by far his best offensive output, scoring six goals and adding five assists, while carrying play in the midfield, on offense and on defense.

Highlights included scoring goals in wins over Cape Elizabeth and York, tallying the only goal in a victory over Kennebunk, burying the winner against Falmouth, which allowed Greely to sweep the Yachtsmen for the first time this century, and producing a goal in a second victory over Cape Elizabeth.

After Greely beat Gray-New Gloucester (Crowley had an assist) and York in its first two playoff tests, it went to undefeated Yarmouth for the Western B Final, just three weeks after being dominated, 4-1, at the Clippers. Yarmouth took a quick 1-0 lead, but this time, the Rangers rallied to tie, then late in regulation, Crowley got some operating room, beat a couple defenders and connected on a shot he’d long dreamed of, tickling the twine to give Greely a stunning 2-1 win. While he would be denied on a penalty kick in the Class B state final against Camden Hills, Crowley helped overcome the absence of injured teammate Sam Porter, hold the potent Windjammers at bay and got to celebrate his first championship.

“I thought we’d be a strong team,” Crowley said. “We worked hard in practice.”

Crowley, who dabbled in basketball and lacrosse earlier in his high school career and who has played several seasons of Premier soccer with Maine Coast United and Portland Phoenix, belongs to Greely’s Yearbook Club.

“I’m competitive, but I like to have fun,” Crowley said. “I’ve worked hard on my technique.”

That technique and big-game flair for the dramatic will take Crowley to Southern New Hampshire University next school year, where he’ll play soccer and study either business or sports management.

Matt Crowley, Greely’s Fall Male Athlete of the Year, certainly managed to join the pantheon of Rangers greats. He capped his career with the kind of heroics that had to be seen to be believed.

Coach Mike Andreasen’s comment: “Matt really elevated his game this year and put the team on his shoulders come playoff time. What really impressed me was his total focus during playoffs. He not only required it of himself, but also of his teammates. Matt played, in my opinion, the best defense of his four years at center mid during the playoffs. He played each game as if it was his last. Matt has earned his way into the elite group of great Greely center midfielders that I have been privileged to coach, from Chris Wortley to Greg Frost to Ryan Burnham to Steven Chase. His stats didn’t tell the story. The team advanced further each year when Matt was with us.”

Prior winners:

2012: Svenn Jacobsen (Football)

2011: Stefan Sandreuter (Cross country)

2010: Jon Higgins (Football)

2009: Logan Price (Cross country)

2008: Steven Chase (Soccer)

2007: James LePage (Cross country)

2006: Oliver Blum (Soccer)

2005: Greg Frost (Soccer)

2004: Casey Diehl (Cross country)

2003: Will Robinson (Golf)

2002: Ben True (Cross country)

2001: Ben True (Cross country)

FEMALE:

KIRSTIN SANDREUTER, Senior—Cross country

• Class B state champion

• Western B champion

• New Englands qualifier

• All-State, first-team

• WMC all-star, first-team

• WMC All-Academic
  

Not many athletes can return from a midseason injury to be effective and almost none can reach the point where they finish at the top of the heap, but Sandreuter did just that this fall, not only emerging as one of the best runners in the region and state, but in all of the Northeast, and she’s not done yet.

Sandreuter was also was named Greely’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year in 2010, her freshman year, when she was second at the regional meet, fifth at states and qualified for New Englands. After solid sophomore and junior campaigns (which saw her named all-state), Sandreuter, who grew up in North Yarmouth and got into cross country at the age of six, looked to finish her high school career in style.

She would do so, but it didn’t go exactly as she’d planned.

Sandreuter set the pace early, but eventually was sidelined by a foot injury and she wouldn’t appear again until the regional championships.

It was as if she was never away, as she won the meet in 19 minutes, 2.2 seconds. The next week, Sandreuter won the Class B title in 18:37.96. She would again go to New Englands, placing fourth behind a personal best 5K time of 17:46.8, chopping 49 seconds off her previous best. Then, Saturday, at the Foot Looker Regionals in New York, she came in 10th in 18:06, to earn a spot in the Nationals in San Diego later this month.

“I wanted to peak at the end (of the season),” said Sandreuter. “I missed most of October, but I progressed for the big races.”

Sandreuter is a true aficionado of the sport.

“I really enjoy running,” she said. “It adds a lot to my life. A huge reason I find it to be so much fun is that I get to share it with so many great coaches, teammates, competitors and family members. The entire Maine running community is very supportive and close and the relationships I’ve formed have really kept me excited to stay involved and made my experience completely unforgettable.”

Sandreuter, who is also a distance standout in both indoor and outdoor track (she hopes to make it to Nationals in those seasons as well), is a member of Greely’s Student Government, French Club and National Honor Society. She mentors younger students, skis for fun and has applied early decision to Cornell University. She hopes to run cross country and track and plans to study nutrition.

In an area with so many great runners, Kirstin Sandreuter, Greely’s Fall Female Athlete of the Year, was at the front of the pack. She cemented a legend that carried well beyond the state’s borders.

Coach David Dowling‘s comment: “Kirstin is the epitome of the scholar-athlete. She committed herself to attaining the highest level of performance in the classroom and on the trails. When injury set her back, she trained equally hard in the pool and on the bike, maintaining her high level of fitness. That training paid off. Kirstin has shown that dedication, planning and preparation can lead to high levels of success. She was also a team leader in bringing together a diverse group on the team, holding dinners at her house and organizing get-togethers outside of practice.”

Prior winners:

2012: Haleigh Roach (Volleyball)

2011: Maggie Bradley (Volleyball)

2010: Kirstin Sandreuter (Cross country)

2009: Erin Cadigan (Volleyball)

2008: Hillary Cederna (Volleyball)

2007: Mackenzie Ross (Field hockey)

2006: Aly Robinson (Soccer)

2005: Amanda Gray (Volleyball)

2004: Rachelle Doucette (Soccer)

2003: Hayly Ross (Field hockey)

2002: Kim Alexander (Soccer)

2001: Amanda Chase (Field hockey)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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