Earns Class A state title by blanking Bangor

SCARBOROUGH – Admittedly, it wasn’t much of a game, but the Scarborough girls soccer team will take it.

In fact, in a 3-0 shutout that saw the Red Storm (18-0) constantly on the attack against Bangor (15-1-2) in the first half, and still decisive enough in the second to knock in a game-clinching third goal, it was downright boring at times, but the result was exciting, as the win allowed the Red Storm to capture the Class A state championship on Saturday.

But after years of coming into the playoffs with high expectations, only to see the hopes and dreams of a successful season dashed upon the rocks of first round defeats, it’s a safe to say that Scarborough had earned a little respite – a small break from the ferocity of their nail-biting playoff triumphs over Cheverus and Thornton Academy.

Routine? Methodical? Business-as-usual? The capstone of the Storm’s long climb was all of these things. When the ordeal was finally at an end, and the captains held aloft the golden soccer ball – enshrouded in their glory, unquestioned in their excellence – there were no more doubts, and no more sad faces. They deserved the peace of mind that only playing a totally outmatched opponent can provide.

No one can doubt them now. They belong to history.

“I think they just wanted it,” said Scarborough Head Coach Mike Farley. “They just came out passionate, and they were really in the game from the opening minutes until the end. In the past two games we won it in the second half, this game we won in the first half. Getting those first couple of goals won the game.”

It would take almost 20 minutes for the Storm to find the net, but Scarborough played dominant soccer from the outset, and it quickly became apparent that it was only a matter of time before they capitalized. The break came at 20:55 remaining, when senior Sarah Little hit a corner shot into the midst of a tangle of players just in front of the let. In the melee that ensued, senior Emma Bagley managed to get a head on the ball, bouncing it into the net. It was the first time in two games that Scarborough had capitalized in the first half.

“Her scoring that goal, especially quickly, really gave us the confidence that we could come out and get what we needed to do done,” said junior Meghan Tyson, who was injured near the close of the half. “And what we needed to get done was win the state title and bring it home to Scarborough.”

The Storm nearly put in a second on a corner at 19:01, and had more chances on further corners at 8:40 and 8:15. But Scarborough would have to wait until the closing minutes of the half to put in their second. With 1:37 left, senior Tori Armishaw lined up a direct kick just outside and to the right of the penalty area. Armishaw’s ball landed right in the hand of Bangor keeper Mia Smith, but rebounded out of her grasp. That was all Scarborough needed. Slicing in from the left like a white streak was senior captain Cortney Hughes, who blasted the loose ball into the right side of the net for the 2-0 halftime advantage.

“There were two minutes left in the half, and I knew we needed one more goal before time ended,” Hughes said. “So I just followed the goalie, hoped for a bobble, and just kicked it in. I think I caught her a little off guard.”

As might be expected, the Rams came out attacking at the beginning of the second half. Aided by a rising wind that was just strong enough to knock Scarborough’s high kicks down while sending Bangor’s far into the Red Storm end, the Rams controlled the ball in Storm territory for much of the second frame.

“I thought in the second half we came out and answered really well,” said Bangor Head Coach Joe Johnson. “Unfortunately, you’re not going to give a team like that a couple of goals and then come back – not the way they’ve been playing all year. We just didn’t stick one in.”

To the distress of the Bangor faithful, the lone letup of the last 40 minutes was on their part. Just 6:11 in, the Storm broke out of midfield with Armishaw charging down the left hash. With the way ahead barred, Armishaw hit a brilliant pass to her right, directly to the streaking Little, who finished by blasting a shot past Smith.

“(That) was very big,” Farley said. “They really put a lot of pressure on us in that beginning part of the second half, and we sort of got a break down at the other end and were able to get that goal. That really changed the game, I think.”

Confident in the knowledge that they had only allowed one goal all season, the Storm played solid defense for the remainder of the contest. With two minutes left, Farley switched out his starters for subs, and the celebration began in earnest on the sideline. All the agony of the past three years melted away. The day belonged to the Red Storm.

“It’s so hard,” Hughes said. “We were all crying at the end of this, because we’ve been playing together since like middle school – since fifth grade. But we’re going out on a high note.”

Years of hard work come to a happy conclusion as Scarborough’s senior captains Jill Deering, Tori Armishaw and Cortney Hughes, surrounded by teammates, hoist the Gold Ball after Saturday’s Class A state championship game in Falmouth. (Photo by Rich Obrey)