PORTLAND—The legend of Myles “The Magnificent” Culley continues to grow.

And Tuesday afternoon at Fore River Fields, Culley’s 35th goal of an unforgettable season produced the biggest win yet for Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team.

The Flyers, who have won the past three Class C state titles, hosted two-time reigning Class B champion Yarmouth and while Waynflete never trailed, it couldn’t put the Clippers away.

Until Culley, who has burst on to the scene as a senior to set records and make jaws drop with breathtaking shots, brought a sudden end to the game.

Yarmouth had Culley double- or triple-teamed much of the day, but he still managed to start the play on the contest’s first goal, as his free kick found the head of senior captain Matt Adey, who got the ball to senior Liam Anderson for a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute.

Three minutes later, the Clippers drew even, as junior Zach Kelly scored his latest big goal.

The Flyers then retook the lead with 6:30 left before halftime, as junior Nils Burton-Johanson finished.

Waynflete still clung to a 2-1 advantage late in regulation, but with 3:50 remaining, junior Adam McLaughlin scored on a rebound to pull never-say-die Yarmouth level once more.

The game would go to overtime and there, less than two minutes in to the first of two possible “sudden victory” sessions, Culley got just a sliver of room and that was all he needed to unleash an absolute blast that found the net and gave the Flyers a 3-2 victory.

Waynflete capped another superb regular season at 12-1-1, locked up the top seed for the upcoming Class C South tournament and in the process, ended the Clippers’ campaign at 10-2-2.

“These are the games that we live for, against good, solid Class B teams,” Culley said. “Yarmouth’s a solid squad, so it’s a great win overall.”

At another level

Waynflete and Yarmouth have both left the opposition in their wake in recent seasons and each team has serious championship aspirations again this fall.

The Flyers began their title defense by downing visiting North Yarmouth Academy (6-0), then defeated visiting St. Dom’s (9-0), visiting Sacopee Valley (7-0) and host Richmond (5-0). After a hard-fought and somewhat controversial 2-1 setback at Class B South power Cape Elizabeth, Waynflete responded by doubling up visiting Traip Academy (4-2) and winning at NYA (4-1) before defeating visiting Greely (3-0) and Freeport (4-1), blanking host St. Dom’s (6-0) and after settling for a 1-1 draw at York, downing host Traip Academy (6-3) and Sacopee Valley (6-1).

The Clippers, meanwhile, started with a 1-1 home tie against Cape Elizabeth, then beat host Freeport after a late rally (2-1), blanked visiting York (5-0), edged visiting North Yarmouth Academy (2-1), won at Greely (2-1), at Poland (6-0) and at home over Fryeburg Academy (4-0) and Wells (7-0), then downed host Gray-New Gloucester (8-0). After falling at Cape Elizabeth (3-0), the Clippers rallied to tie visiting Freeport (1-1), then rallied for a 2-1 victory at York before blanking visiting Greely Saturday (3-0).

A year ago, the soon-to-be-championship-winning teams played to a 1-1 draw in Yarmouth.

Tuesday, on a very comfortable afternoon (62 degrees), the Flyers capped their regular season in style by beating the Clippers for just the second time ever and for the first time since a 2-1 home victory Sept. 25, 2015.

In unforgettable fashion.

For most of the game’s first 30 minutes, the two defenses reigned supreme, as quality chances were few.

Yarmouth senior Stevie Walsh sent a long shot on frame in the 11th minute, but Waynflete junior goalkeeper Nico Kirby made the save.

In the 13th minute, Culley nearly scored a highlight reel, as he somehow redirected a deflected ball, bicycle kick style, on target, but Clippers junior keeper Ian O’Connor managed to leap and knock the ball away at the last moment.

The Flyers then broke the ice with 14:14 to go in the first half.

Culley got the play started with a free kick into the box, which Adey headed on target and before O’Connor could react, Anderson was there to finish for a 1-0 lead.

It took Yarmouth less than three minutes to answer, as with 11:23 on the clock, senior captain Truman Peters took a free kick from the side, the ball then bounced off McLaughlin to Kelly, who got it past Kirby.

After McLaughlin nearly put the Clippers ahead after taking a pass from Peters but missing high, Waynflete retook the lead with 6:30 to go.

This time, the goal came off a nice pass from senior Dudley Holdridge to Burton-Johanson who put the ball in the net.

“Myles was unselfish and we moved the ball really well today,” said longtime Flyers coach Brandon Salway. “(Yarmouth) did a good job against him. They knew what he was capable of. They had three guys on him. Nils played well up top and that was a nice finish. To get those chances was good for us.”

Down the stretch in the first half, Yarmouth tried again to answer, but Peters missed just wide, Kirby denied a shot from McLaughlin the box, Walsh headed a free kick from junior Jonny Fulton just wide, then Kirby saved a bid from junior Zach Turkel which allowed the Flyers to cling to a 2-1 advantage at the break.

The second half would remain just as tightly contested.

Early on, Culley managed to unleash a low shot on frame, but O’Connor made the save.

At the other end, a Walsh free kick from the top of the box was deflected to McLaughlin, who had a good look, but missed high.

After O’Connor denied Burton-Johanson, Fulton just missed a long shot and Kirby beat sophomore Zacarias Binda to a through ball from Turkel.

With 24:55 to go, Culley had a great look at producing an insurance goal, taking a pass on the left flank and advancing into the box, but his blast was denied by a diving O’Connor to keep the margin at one.

After Peters missed high on a free kick and Walsh missed just wide and with 4:25 to go, Walsh played in a long free kick to senior captain Owen Redfield, who sent a promising header on frame, only to see Kirby tip it over the bar at the last instant to set up a corner kick.

Where Yarmouth drew even.

McLaughlin sent the ball long to Fulton at the other end of the box and after Fulton lofted the ball back in front, Kirby got a hand on it, but knocked it right to where McLaughlin was waiting to deliver the equalizer with just 3:50 remaining.

Culley had a chance to play the hero with a minute left, but junior Luis Cardoso blocked the shot and the game would go to overtime.

Where Culley would capitalize on his next opportunity.

Early in overtime, the Flyers applied immediate pressure and earned a corner kick which was headed away.

And then, with 3:04 to go, Culley, who got possession on the right side, took a couple dribbles to his left and with two defenders closing in, had just enough room to swing his powerful left leg.

From roughly 30-yards out, Culley made solid contact and perhaps his most beautiful strike of the season soared toward the Yarmouth goal and before O’Connor could react, it sailed just under the crossbar and in to end it.

“That’s my best goal by far,” Culley said. “I was definitely frustrated. They planted a guy on me the whole game. Credit to him. I had a few chances, but I was largely shut down. Finally the time came, I got a clear look and bang. Every time I get the ball, I get it on my left foot and try to shoot. I knew I hit it well. I was praying it would go under the bar and it just went under. I was trying to lift that one. I was a little further out, so I felt if I was going to beat the keeper from out there, I had to hit it up.”

“It took Myles a little longer than usual, but he got a chance and finished,” Salway said. “That was a classic finish by him. All he needs a half a yard (of space).”

“That was an incredible, just beautiful goal,” marveled longtime Yarmouth coach Mike Hagerty. “(Culley’s) the best player I’ve seen this season. He’s the real deal. He reminds me of (former standouts) Gabe Hoffman-Johnson from Falmouth and Josh McGeachey from Cape. All three are left-footed, crafty on the ball and stronger than they look.”

At 5:14 p.m., Culley was mobbed by his teammates as Waynflete celebrated its dramatic 3-2 triumph.

“That goal (at the end of regulation) was tough for us, but the mindset was the same in OT, to go out and win the game and that’s what happened,” Culley said.

“It was a great end to the regular season,” Salway said. “Yarmouth is just class. I’m not surprised they came back. Before overtime, we talked about being a little more direct and trying to get our guys up top a chance. We did a good job defensively. They didn’t get a ton of chances in the run of play. I think championship teams are resilient and they answer. We’ve done that for a few years now. Yarmouth does that. The best teams don’t stay down. (The tying goal) was deflating, but we had to remember to keep playing.”

The Flyers finished with a 10-7 advantage in shots on frame, a 5-4 edge in corner kicks and got five saves from Kirby.

For Yarmouth, O’Connor made seven saves and the Clippers twice erased a one-goal deficit, but they still fell short.

“We talked that we can’t lose our focus against good teams,” said Hagerty. “We made two mistakes inside the 6 and they scored. I feel like we could have won this in regulation with a little more focus. We had six shots inside the 12. If we buried one more, it wouldn’t have gone to overtime. We had opportunities. The kids responded well. I’m always proud of the boys’ effort.

“Credit to (Waynflete). They scored some great goals and Ian had to make a one-on-one save on the best player in the state to keep us in it in the second half and he did. You need complete attention on (Culley) all the time and I thought (junior) Matt Gautreau did a fabulous job on the best player in the state. He and (senior) Wyatt (Anderson) frustrated him and played so intelligently.”

Win or go home

The crucible of the postseason is upon us and what fun awaits for both powers.

Yarmouth now projects to be the third seed in Class B South and will host a quarterfinal round contest next week.

Likely against a Freeport squad which has given the Clippers fits this fall.

“We’ll learn from this,” Hagerty said. “If we can put two halves together like the second half (today), I think we can beat anybody. I do like the idea of playing Freeport again. We like playing them. I think we’re better than Freeport. We haven’t played Lincoln yet. Not to look past Freeport, but I’d like to play a team we haven’t played yet because they haven’t seen us. I’d love to see Cape again. I feel like we’ve been this close to beating them.”

Waynflete will be the top seed in Class C South and will host a quarterfinal next week likely against either Oak Hill or Winthrop.

The Flyers will be favored to capture another Gold Ball, but will take nothing for granted.

“Now it’s all eyes on playoffs, starting tomorrow,” Culley said. “We just have to lock in and stay focused. We certainly have the talent to go all the way.”

“Getting 12 wins with this schedule was great,” Salway said. “We try to get better throughout the year and our schedule forced us to get better. It’s a special group. A lot of guys improved a lot. The job is done for this part of the season, but (playoffs) is a different season. We haven’t played a perfect game yet. We may see different formations and we have to be ready for anything. Now, it’s one game at a time. There’s some really good teams in Class C that will challenge us, but we have high expectations.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Copy the Story Link