FREEPORT — It’s tough to win when you hardly have the ball.

The Freeport High School girls varsity soccer team was faced with that challenge on Thursday against Kennebunk, and despite withstanding loads of pressure throughout, the Falcons’ chances were numbered.

The Rams took advantage of the ball control, poking in a pair of goals and taking the Western Maine Conference match, 2-0.

Kennebunk (4-1) started with the ball on the opening tap and made it clear immediately that it didn’t plan on letting it go. The Freeport (2-1) back line was on its heels and fending off attacks for over fifteen minutes before the Rams earned their first corner. By the time they scored a few minutes later, the ball had only been in their defensive half for a few quick spurts.

Hallie Schwartzman curled in a ball on the visitors second corner of the game and senior Sarah Thill was waiting for it. The midfielder darted into the six-yard box and headed the ball into the ground past Freeport goalie Jordan Randall to make the score 1-0.

“We’ve really lucked out with a player like Sarah Thill,” Kennebunk coach Shannon Cavanaugh said. “She has a nose for goal, she is phenomenal out of the air, so any time we have those opportunities, we get her in and find a way to get her head on the ball.”

The Kennebunk possession game wasn’t just an effective tactic – it also wore the Falcons out.

Ultimately, the high pressing left the Falcons vulnerable in the back and Mia Murray tacked on a second goal for Kennebunk with less than four minutes to play. The Rams tallied 15 total shots and took three corners. Freeport had just three shots (all on free-kicks) and didn’t earn a corner.

“There are games you’re going to lose because you didn’t play well and there are games you’re going to lose when the other team does a great job of finding your weakness and exploiting it. I thought Kennebunk did a great job finding our weakness. It’s just a good chance to see what we need to work on to keep competing with the higher-level teams.”