Freeport – Much like the last time when Cape Elizabeth and Freeport high school girls soccer teams squared off back in September, the two Western Maine Conference foes played to a scoreless tie in the first 40 minutes. Eventually the Capers scored three second-half goals en route to the victory.
On Friday night, the Falcons were in defensive mode, holding down the visitors offensive prowess. But in the 35th minute, Karli Chapin tapped in a rebound to lift Cape Elizabeth to a 1-0 victory over Freeport at Joan Benoit Samuelson Track and Field.
“It’s great getting in a game like that against Cape before the playoffs,” Freeport coach David Intraversato said of his team’s effort against Class B South top-seed Cape Elizabeth.
With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Cape Elizabeth’s Maggie Cochran fired a shot on net. Freeport keeper Leah Rusiecki took a step up to make the save, but the ball caromed off her hands and rolled behind towards the right corner. That was where Chapin tapped it in to secure the eventual game-winner.
“She’s been crossing it all game and we just hadn’t been able to finish yet,” Chapin said of Cochran’s assist. “She shot it that time and the goalie made a nice save, and it was rolling so I made sure it went in.”
Chapin was making sure it went in because the Capers had been frustrated all night from Rusiecki and her teammates. While the visitors seemed to be shooting at will in the opening 10 minutes, the sophomore stopped turned away five shots during that span. After that, Cape only managed three more shots on goal, as a result of the Freeport defenders keeping it away from the net.
“It was frustrating to say the least,” Cape Elizabeth coach Graham Forsyth said. “We’ve set upon goals for us since I’ve been in here in July on what our plan of attack was. Teams are coming for us as they see our record and we’re ready.”
With 12 minutes to play, Cape’s Presli Piscopo drove towards the net, but Freeport’s Tara Migliacco was there to break up her rhythm. In the final two minutes, Chapin put a direct kick towards the net, but Carly Intraversato was there to head the ball away, preserving the scoreless half.
Cape Elizabeth put eight shots on net, while not allowing Freeport an opportunity to score. The Capers also held the advantage in corner kicks, 6-1.
For much of the second half, Cape once again took control of possession of the ball. The Capers offense again put pressure on Freeport, but again Rusiecki and company continued to come up big.
Including a pair of saves that had the sophomore either diving at or tapping the ball away, Rusiecki turned away the next eleven shots she faced, finishing with 20 saves on the night. It may have been more, but again Migliacco was in the middle of the action.
“She doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, but since we’ve moved her back there on defense, she’s been solid and has been the glue,” the Freeport coach said about Migliacco. “She’s so fast and knows how to command the field, she has a good soccer IQ.”
Despite the goal, Freeport challenged the Capers in the final five minutes. With under a minute remaining, the Falcons managed only their second shot on goal and just missed the equalizer when Carly Intraversato’s direct kick was stopped by Cape goalie Elise Branch and Cat Gould’s tap of the rebound rolled just wide of the post.
Although the Falcons lost the game, Coach Intraversato said his team understands the importance of the game and how they played.
“They don’t like to lose, but they are happy with how they played,” the coach said. “And the best part about it is we tend to lose emotion when someone scores on us. Today, we actually cranked it up and we got down there and had the opportunity to tie the game, and that’s something we’re going to take away from it.”
Freeport (8-4-2) awaits the final Class B South Heal Points to see where they match up in the final standings.
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