Mark Diaz had no big speech for his team on Friday, at the end of Scarborough’s last practice before the big game.

In fact, the only thing out of the ordinary about Friday’s practice, the last for Scarborough’s 10 seniors, was its length. There was some jogging, some stretching and a few last-minute tactical issues to go over. After about 40 minutes, though, Diaz sent his guys on their way.

“We just want to keep it as normal as we can,” said Diaz on Friday. “Obviously it’s a big game. They know that. We don’t want to make more out of it than it already is.”

Those seniors knew exactly what it was: a chance not only to go out on top, but also a chance to avenge their loss to Mt. Ararat in the 2003 Class A state title game.

They didn’t need a speech to remind them of anything.

“The week of anticipation from Saturday to next Saturday is a big thing,” said goalie Derek Poulin, who was a striker on the 2003 team. “We had to prepare and work on strategies and try to counter their attacks. The anticipation definitely built and it just makes the game that much better.”

And it did make the game that much better – something did, anyway.

The Red Storm and the Eagles played a carbon copy of the 2003 game. There was no score through 80 minutes of regulation. No score through two 15-minute overtime periods. So the teams headed to a shootout to determine a winner.

“I’m sure the (seniors) were (thinking about 2003),” Diaz said after the game. “I know I was. I was like, ‘Wow, if we lose again in Pks I’m really going to be – ‘ It’s a tough one to swallow when you lose in PKs. I’ve felt that firsthand.”

This time was different, though. Scarborough won in the second round of penalty kicks when Poulin made two saves and junior Micah Abrams booted the winner.

What was the difference between the two games, aside from maybe a little shootout luck?

“Just the players really,” said senior Mike Keenan. “It was the same spirit. Everyone was looking forward to it and we really wanted to go to states and we were happy that we finally got here. It paid off. We worked hard all week.”

During the first couple of days back at practice the players were still nursing their sore legs, which came courtesy of back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against Gorham and Greely. As the week wore on and the legs got better, the energy level increased.

“(Thursday) was our best day of practice, actually,” said Diaz. “We got things going. The guys had their energy back. (Friday) we didn’t do too much because we play at 10 a.m. (Saturday). But (Thursday) and Wednesday were good days for us.”

The Red Storm came out focused at 10 a.m. on Saturday and erased the memory of the 2003 shootout loss with a 2005 shootout win.

“Last year, senior year, last game, I don’t know if I wanted it to go down to PKs or not, but you know one of us has got to be the hero,” said Poulin. “It wasn’t me, it was the whole team.”

Added, Keenan: “It’s the best thing a senior can have on an athletic team.”

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