Cape Elizabeth’s boys soccer team has gone toe-to-toe with the best teams in Class B South this season and when the Capers can put the ball in the goal, they’re close to unstoppable.
Monday evening at Hannaford Field, Cape Elizabeth High School welcomed another top contender in the region, Freeport, and the Capers proved that for one night at least, that they’re the squad best equipped to perhaps end Yarmouth’s long stranglehold on Class B.
After hitting the post in the third minute, Cape Elizabeth scored the only goal it needed with 25:28 to play in the first half, when sophomore Archie McEvoy fought his way through the defense and finished.
With 8:21 left in the first half, senior standout John O’Connor added a goal and the Capers were on their way.
While the resurgent Falcons did their best to get back in the game in the second half, Cape Elizabeth defense refused to give them life and the Capers hit the midway point of their year with a pivotal 2-0 Western Maine Conference victory.
Cape Elizabeth earned some key Heal Points, improved to 4-1-2, handed Freeport its first loss to date and dropped the Falcons to 3-1-2 in the process.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Capers coach Ben Raymond said. “Like every year, we try to get better each and every day, each and every game. We don’t have many year-round soccer players, so it takes time to improve.”
Monday, on a 70-degree evening, the Falcons sought their first win over the Capers since Sept. 26, 2011 (2-1 in Cape Elizabeth), but instead, the Capers made it nine straight in the series.
Freeport had the first chance, as it earned a corner kick in the second minute, but Cape Elizabeth cleared it, then transitioned to offense and with 37:42 to play in the first half, junior Charlie Dall rang a shot off the post.
After McEvoy had a deflected shot saved by Falcons senior goalkeeper Atticus Patrick and Freeport junior Gabe Wagner ripped a shot high, the Capers opened the scoring.
With 25:28 left in the first half, O’Connor got the ball to McEvoy, who fought through the defense before beating Patrick for a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons nearly answered in the 19th minute, but a rush by junior Jake Dumont was broken up at the last minute by Cape Elizabeth senior goalkeeper Harry Baker.
With 15:02 remaining before halftime, Falcon sophomore Will Winter was denied by Baker on a shot from the side of the box, but the rebound sat free until a defender cleared it.
With 8:21 left in the half, the Capers received some breathing room, courtesy of O’Connor, who took a pass from junior Ben Payson, turned and one-timed a shot past Patrick and into the goal for a 2-0 advantage.
“It’s important to seize chances when you get them,” said O’Connor. “I’m not really sure what happened on that. It was kind of a free-for-all in there.”
Freeport looked to rally in the second half, but failed to solve the Cape Elizabeth defense.
With 25:24 to play, a left-footed shot by senior Wes Goodwin sailed just wide. Two minutes later, Winter also missed wide.
With 21:32 on the clock, the Capers almost scored again, as senior Nick Aceto lofted a shot on goal, forcing Patrick (six saves) to leap to stop. The rebound came to O’Connor alone in front, but O’Connor booted it over the crossbar.
The Falcons then went back on the attack, but Dumont had a shot blocked and a long free kick by senior Liam Grogan was saved by Baker (three saves).
“Cape frustrated us,” Strong said. “They connected and played aggressive and we couldn’t get in a flow. We had some looks, but it’s not the result we were looking for. We just didn’t finish. We need to control the midfield more. Today, that’s where we broke down and they took advantage. They had us on our heels. If we can control the midfield, we’ll be better off.”
Freeport goes to Wells Thursday and hosts Traip Academy Saturday.
“We need to learn from this and take something away from this to make us to a better team,” Strong said. “We’ve seen the big four teams now. Yarmouth’s still the team to beat, but this group has a great ethic, a lot of heart, they believe in themselves and we’ll see what we can do.”
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
