The Wolverines scored first but couldn’t hold on as host Mountain Valley rallied back for three unanswered goals in the opening game of the high school soccer season Thursday, Aug. 30 at Rumford.

Senior Tim Shapplie’s goal at the 23-minute mark of the first half gave Wiscasset Middle High School the early lead. Shapplie’s unassisted score came from 30 yards away. “He really blasted a shot, the ball was like a rocket. From the sideline it looked like it would either hit off the cross bar or go over the net but fortunately for us the wind knocked it down,” Wolverine Coach Chris Cossette said.

The Falcons’ Will Sorensen tied the game with three minutes to go until halftime. The score came off a corner kick; Sorensen got to the ball and booted it in before a Wiscasset defender could clear it away.

Six minutes into the second half, Alexei Rodriguez, an exchange student from Mexico, scored what proved to be the game-winning goal. A Falcon midfielder found Rodriguez open, he broke free and netted the unassisted goal.

Garrett Garbarini then scored with about 22 minutes left in regulation to salt this one away for the hosts.

Wolverine goalie Caleb Gabriele recorded nine saves on 14 Mt. Valley shots. Kyle Kenny saved seven for the Falcons on 12 WMHS shots.

Cossette said Matt Smith, Josh Gabriele and Bayly Gaughan-Carrasco were defensive standouts in the Wolverine backfield. He further noted the play of James and John Hodson.

“I thought we matched up pretty well with them,” he added.

WMHS’s home opener is Friday, Sept. 7 under the lights. The schedule says Telstar on it but the Wolverines will instead be hosting the Oak Hill Raiders.

“Telstar wasn’t able to field a team this season, so we’ve added an additional game with Oak Hill,” said the coach. The opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Wiscasset hosts Dirigo at 4 p.m. Sept. 12.