More Maine high schools switch to 8-person soccer teams

Maine became the first U.S. state to offer 8-person high school varsity soccer last fall, to help keep smaller programs afloat during a time of single-sport specialization and historically low enrollment numbers. Sixteen boys teams and 19 girls teams from around the Pine Tree State initially made the switch from 11-person soccer — which has a minimum roster size of 17 players — to 8-person in 2023, and nine more teams have joined their ranks this offseason. In Piscataquis County, the Dexter girls soccer team and Piscataquis Community boys soccer...