Girls Soccer
Scarborough 0
Gorham 1
With Scarborough shutting out Gorham’s top-scorers in Monday’s Western Maine Class A regional final, someone else had to step up. Enter sophomore Molly Folan.
Folan’s goal early in the second half gave the Rams all they needed, sending No. 1 Gorham past No. 3 Scarborough, 1-0, and into Saturday’s Class A state championship.
“We were worried about shutting out the big-two, Rachele (Burns) and (Kelsey) Wilson,” said Scarborough coach Mike Farley. “We were beaten by another player. That’s credit to them. They have 11 players that can beat you at any time.”
Katie Zarrilli sent a cross to Folan who shot from 30 yards out. Folan stood and watched as her shot sailed to the far post and then leapt with excitement – almost surprise – as it cleared the reach of Scarborough goalie Brittany Kane.
“With those shots you really never know,” said Folan. “I know I have a strong kick, but it’s hard to aim from that far out. I have scored from there before so I just took my chances with it.”
According to Gorham coach Jeanne Zarrilli, Folan and senior Nicole Robitaille have combined to give the Rams a third scoring threat behind star midfielder Kelsey Wilson and sophomore striker Rachele Burns.
“She’s been a key player all year,” said Zarrilli of Folan. “That’s what happens in a big game like this. You have big names like Kelsey and Rachele and teams forget there are other people on the field. They left her wide open for that shot not really knowing, maybe, that she could take it.”
“Our team is really well-rounded,” said Wilson. “That’s one of the things; we don’t have just one or two players scoring all our goals. You can’t just shut down one, two or even three players on our team because other people will step up.”
The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half as Scarborough (12-3-1) frustrated Gorham (16-0-1).
“Scarborough plays the long, hard ball and they play it well,” said Zarilli. “We don’t play that way; we play a passing game. In a situation like that we start to get into their game. It was killing us. It was one of those halves where I wish I had a time out to get them off field and say ‘Stop it!'”
Despite the tie, both teams had multiple scoring chances in the first half. Following a well-timed pass by Kate Pemberton in the 20th minute, Alex Pastore beat Gorham goalie Luci Pike, but the goal was disallowed because Pastore was offside.
“We were so close three or four times,” said Farley. “It would have made a big difference. We had the goal disallowed. That would have been a big boost to our team if we could have gotten the early lead.”
Five minutes later Wilson volleyed a knee-high cross from Robitaille that went off the cross bar and shortly after that Wilson forced Kane to make a diving save on a low-driven shot.
Scarborough was happy with the first half shutout. Earlier in the season Gorham built a 2-0 lead by halftime, forcing the Red Storm to come from behind and tie the score in the second half – which they did before the Rams eventually won in overtime.
“When we lost in overtime we were all sitting out there ready to play right then,” said Farley. “The kids were ready to just line it up and do it again.”
The Red Storm had chances to tie the score after Folan put the Rams ahead. Scarborough had four corners and a free-kick in the offensive end – all taken by Pemberton – in the game’s final 20 minutes.
“Every corner we had was dangerous,” Farley said. “They were all right in the mixer but we couldn’t get on the end of any of them.”
“I had my heart in my throat on every corner,” said Zarilli.
Pike and the Rams’ defense were able to clear each threat, sending Gorham to their third straight state championship game. Gorham has won two consecutive state titles; one in Class B in 2004 followed by the Class A title last season.
“They don’t get those for nothing,” said Farley. “They take care of business; they come out and win games. You have to bring you’re A-game if you want to match up with them and that’s really what we did today.”
Zarilli said it was the toughest game her team has had to play in her four years as head coach at Gorham.
“I really felt for Scarborough,” said Zarilli. “The played so hard. It was anyone’s game.”
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