DURHAM – For the first 40 minutes of its game with Freeport Friday, the Cape Elizabeth girls soccer team didn’t look like the squad that had gone unbeaten for nine games. Then the second half happened.

Cape scored four unanswered goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half to take control against the Falcons, wiping away a one-goal deficit for a 4-1 victory in Durham to improve to 9-1-1 on the season. Kathyrn Clark scored twice to lead the charge, while Madie Riker and Montana Braxton also tallied.

After a first half in which the normally high-powered Capers managed just one shot on goal, coach Luke Krawczyk liked the way his girls bounced back in the second.

“It’s something you can always do, you can always give 100 percent, but we didn’t give 100 percent (in the first half),” he said. “Second half. I thought we were a lot better, we pressed the ball up the field with more energy and kept the ball better, we created three or four good opportunities and we were clinical in front of goal.

We scored a couple of good goals, as well, which always helped.”

And even in the loss, Falcons coach Elayna Girardin was happy with her team’s performance against one of the better teams in Class A West.

“We know how good Cape is, their reputation is huge and they’re one of the strongest teams around, and we knew that coming in and we didn’t back down,” she said. “We played aggressive, we played hard, and that to me was just a huge step for us.”

Neither team was able to get much going in a first 20 minutes that were played mostly in the midfield. Clark had the first real opportunity 23 minutes in when a nice through ball from Riker put her in on the left side of the Falcons’ goal, but the forward’s shot was directly at keeper Jessica Perry.

Cape continued to carry most of the play, but it was Freeport (5-6-1) who was able to get on the board on its first real attack 26 minutes in when Maddie Squibb picked up a Cape turnover just outside the right side of the box. The freshman midfielder decided to have a go at goal and curled a beautiful shot just inside goalkeeper Mary Perkins’ left post. Those were the only two shots of the opening 40 minutes as it went into half 1-0.

“We clearly didn’t really play well in the first half in any aspects,” Krawczyk said. “We kept giving the ball away, attitudes weren’t right, the tempers of our play wasn’t right, we really weren’t switched on from the minute we got to the field getting ready during the warm up.”

Whatever Krawczyk said to his team at half, it seemed to turn the switch on. And just 1:26 in, Clark had the equalizer when she used her speed to beat four Falcons defenders to a ball over the top, and then beat an onrushing Perry.

After a trying first half on a rough and bumpy Durham Community School field that was very different from the turf they’re used to playing on, the goal ignited the Capers, and Clark especially.

“I was very frustrated in the first half, we were getting opportunities and everything but we just couldn’t finish them,” Clark said. “During halftime our coach talked to us, my captain talked to me, I got my act together and everything worked out.

“It was a great ball put over and I just worked hard for it, and I placed in.”

The Capers amped up the pressure after the goal, and it paid off seven minutes later when a corner bounced to Riker in the middle of the box. The senior captain drove it into the top corner for his first of the year, and it was 2-0.

“We spoke at halftime about taking it to them,” Krawczyk said. “We know that they’re a good side but we knew if we got a goal they might get nervous and obviously the girls could build on it. I think that happened, the early goal helped lift us in confidence levels and momentum, and luckily we scored straight after that as well.”

The bulk of the pay remained in the Freeport half of the field as Cape pushed for the two-goal lead, which they got at the 15 minutes mark when Kate Breed sent a perfect cross from the right touchline into the path of Clark, who only had to pick which side of the net she wanted to score into.

Clark’s speed was again the key factor in the goal as she split the Freeport defense to run on to Breed’s ball. With the brace the sophomore has now scored 10 on the year to lead the balanced Cape attack.

“She’s nearly as quick as me, Kathryn,” Krawczyk said with a laugh. “First half she had a couple of chances and I think got her head down a little bit. Second half, her movement was very good and she took both goals very well.”

Montana Braxton then completed the blitz just a minute after Clark’s second when her long-range free kick floated over Perry and into the side of the net to make it 4-1.

The Falcons best chance for a second came with 12 minutes remaining when Emily Morang found space on the left side of the Capers defense and chipped her shot past an onrushing Perkins. But defender Natalie Vaughan had hustled back and was able to clear the ball off the line to keep it at 4-1.

With the victory, Cape hasn’t seen defeat since at tough 2-1 loss to Falmouth in the opening game of the season Aug. 31, and Krawczyk said his team learned a good lesson about coming ready to play Friday. But if his team plays like they’re able to, as in the second half, they’ll be a tough out come playoff time.

“If we play like we did in the first half today we’re going to struggle,” Krawczyk said. “I think most importantly at this point in the season we need performances as well as results. Today we didn’t quite have that, but second half we did and it’s good to come off positive.”

Cape Elizabeth forward Kate Breed and Freeport midfielder Molly Lane battle for possession midway through the second half. Breed assisted on the Capers’ third goal as they beat the Falcons 4-1. (Staff photos by Cameron Dunbar)
Freeport forward Ashley Richardson tries to win the ball from two Cape Elizabeth defenders late in the second half.
Freeport midfielder Maddie Squibb controls the ball in front of Cape Elizabeth defender Natalie Vaughan in the first half. Squibb scored the opening goal, but the Falcons fell to the Capers 4-1. 
Cape Elizabeth midfielder Maddy Riker whacks a shot on the Freeport goal as Falcons forward Ashley Richardson tries to get in the way. The ball would fly into the net for the Capers third goal, and they would go on to a 4-1 victory.
Cape Elizabeth forward Talley Perkins races into the Freeport half early in the first half.
Cape Elizabeth forward Addie Wood tries to push the ball by Freeport defender Brooke Heathco early in the first half.
Cape Elizabeth forward Kathryn Clark puts a cross into the Freeport box early in the second half. Clark scored two second-half goals as the Capers beat the Falcons 4-1.
Cape Elizabeth midfielder Sarah O’Connor controls the ball as Freeport midfielder Maddie Squibb races to catch up.