BATH

McMann Field was no Field of Dreams for host Morse High School in more ways than one.

On a sloppy, mud-packed McMann, the Shipbuilders saw their dreams of a state-game appearance stuffed as No. 2 Falmouth popped in two first-half goals en route to a 2-0 win.

Wednesday’s Western Maine Class B girls soccer finale was a repeat of last year’s 2-1 win by the secondseeded Yachtsmen, who now move on to play Eastern kingpin Hermon Saturday (5:30 p.m.) at Scarborough High School.

Two-time defending state champion Falmouth (13-2-2) did most everything right as it took control early (five corner kicks over first 10 minutes, 19-6 shots advantage) and laid a defensive blanket on the ever-dangerous Miracle Trimble, who came into the contest with 35 goals.

Led by the omnipresent Caitlin Bucksbaum, the Yachtsmen put constant pressure on Morse goaltender Sadia Crosby (nine saves), although Morse’s Brianna Williams nailed the crossbar with just two and half minutes gone in the game.

“I’m not surprised … they had a point to prove and they had the energy at the beginning of the game,” said Morse coach Steve Boyce. “I think the good part was that (early pressure) didn’t account for anything and we almost countered. We hit the crossbar.

“We probably would’ve relaxed a bit (had Morse scored),” added Boyce. “Even though this is our homefield, we haven’t done this a lot. When you get out there and play the big game, no matter however you prepare it takes time to get rid of the jitters. I think they took advantage of that, especially in the beginning.”

Falmouth’s Angie Mallis was wide left on a header following a Bucksbaum corner seven minutes in, Crosby gobbled up a Bucksbaum breakaway a minute later and Falmouth finally cashed in with 27:13 left.

“That’s a hard-working Morse group that we know can get behind our backs and score goals,” said Falmouth coach Walter Leblanc. “They play really intense soccer and Miracle Trimble, I think, is the real deal. It was nice for us to get a goal first and put a little pressure on them.”

Of the win, Leblanc said, “It’s feels like there’s more work to be done … how about that?”

A Bucksbaum corner sailed into the box where an unmarked Alex Bernier headed it into the lower right corner for a 1-0 lead.

A Cassie Darrow offering was deflected over the top and off the crossbar by an athletic Crosby with three minute left in the half, and with five seconds left, a Falmouth bid — set up by a Bucksbaum throughball — by Mary Catherine Kowalsky bounced off a Morse defender and angled away from a positioned Crosby for a two-goal margin.

That score changed the complexity of the second half as Morse now had to ramp up its offense.

“It’s unfortunate when that kind if thing happens, particularly with that little time left,” said Boyce. “It didn’t change what we were doing because we still had to get that first one. We came close in the second half, but that was what kind of game it was … the breaks weren’t going the way we wanted.”

But, with Trimble surrounded by two, three and sometimes four defenders (most notably Angie Mallis, Bri DiPhillippo, Laura Bauer, Maddie Inlow), the Yachtsmen protected goaltender Caroline Lucas well.

Kowalsky just missed putting a dagger into the Shipbuilders’ hearts early in the second half when her header sailed over the top.

“That second goal was big,” said Leblanc, “Obviously, that third goal would’ve been better. And that crosspass to Kowalsky, who just headed it wide … that, obviously, was something we were looking for. If Morse were to get on the board at 2-1 and get some momentum, then certainly it would’ve made for an interesting finish.”

Another great Falmouth chance came on a cross from Georgia Babikian, which rolled through the box and just missed by both Sarah Weigel and Kowalsky and cleared by Morse’s Sophie Sreden.

Later, Lucas came off the goalline to cut off a hardcharging Trimble and make a rough-and-tough save with just under six minute left to preserve the shutout.

“There’s still pressure and we talked about it all week,” said Leblanc. “We appreciate every win we get, every step of the way … we’re not last year’s team.”

Morse graduates seniors Megan Hixon, Bess Howell, Elizabeth Walfield and Crosby.

Falmouth 2, Morse 0

Western Maine Class B Girls
Soccer Championship
Falmouth20—2
Morse 00—0
Goals — (F) Alex Bernier, Mary Catherine Kowalski.
Assists — Caitlin Bucksbaum.
Saves — (M) Sadia Crosby (9), (F) Caroline Lucas (4).
Records — Falmouth 13-2-2, Morse
(14-2-1).