A couple of Boothbay seniors have been double trouble for the Seahawks’ Mountain Valley Conference soccer opponents this season. Boothbay is 5-3 and in twelfth place in the Class C South Heal point standings. That is one spot out of a potential playoff berth. That would be a good season for most teams, but is an outstanding one so far for a program struggling to win games in recent seasons.

Last year, an experienced Seahawk squad posted a 4-10 mark. So this year’s record is a bit of a surprise considering Boothbay has only three seniors on a roster dominated by freshmen and sophomores.

But two of the seniors are Reagan and Hannah Cola who both possess a great talent and love for the game. Reagan is the team’s leading scorer and Hannah is the Seahawks' top defender. The Colas' major attribute is their speed, but each one possesses other skills which makes her an outstanding soccer player. Reagan possesses great ball handling skills and a great shot. She is among the toughest MVC players to defend this season. Hannah is also a highly skilled player. Her strong kicks and her experience in directing the younger players in the Seahawk defense make for an ideal fullback.

But at times this season, Coach Matt Brewer has teamed the twins on the front line. On Sept. 19, Hannah scored twice in the Seahawks’ 3-1 victory over Wiscasset. Deciding where to play Hannah has been difficult for Brewer all season. Despite her scoring prowess, Brewer sees great value with her patrolling the defensive back line.

“Both are great offensive players. Hannah has definitely sacrificed some glory by playing defense, but back on defense, she is strong, and has big clears and is like a second goalie who can’t use her hands,” he said.

Reagan is typically among the shortest players on the field, but she still makes a big impact on the game. Brewer described her as a player possessing both finesse and power. Despite her small stature, she is a powerful player whose ball handling and shooting ability make her among the conference’s  top scoring threat, Brewer said.

“She is great with the ball. Her feet are like a ball magnet the way she controls it. And her shots are powerful. Several times she shot so hard it went through the goalie’s hands and into the net,” Brewer said.

The coach has relied heavily on his twin stars both on and off the field this season. “My first impression of them was they’re both great athletes.  I knew I would need to rely on them a lot this season, and they have been great, especially with instilling confidence in our younger players,” Brewer said.

The Colas have played soccer since kindergarten. They began playing after moving from Boothbay to Limington and joined a youth soccer program. Five years ago, the family returned to Boothbay. In 2014, Reagan began playing winter soccer for the Dutch Soccer Academy in Warren. DSA United is a premier soccer club with a focus on providing top coaching, training, and year round play. Hannah joined the following year. So the sisters’ dedication to soccer may be a factor in the team’s improvement this season.

And with six games remaining, Boothbay is battling No. 11 Winthrop for the final playoff spot. On Sept. 21, the Seahawks improved their post season chances with a 2-1 victory over No. 10 Carrabec (2-5-1). Reagan scored on two penalty kicks in the Seahawks’ 2-1 victory.

Neither twin can pinpoint the reason for the team’s early success. “I really can’t tell you why we have won more games this season,” Hannah said. “We have a very young team so there is no reason I can point to.”

Reagan has also been surprised with the team’s win total. “The team bonded early this season which has helped, but varsity is a big step, and they’ve really done well in closing the gap,” she said.

The Colas are also top track athletes. Last season, Reagan finished third in the Class C 400 meters with a 62.4 second time. Hannah is a sprinter. Her best time in the 100 meters is 13.55 seconds.

After graduation, Reagan plans to play college soccer at a Division III school. After scoring soccer goals, Reagan’s career goal is working in the fashion industry. Hannah is not sure what her future holds. She may take a year off and work. Hannah is also considering joining the military.