CAPE ELIZABETH—Now these are the Yarmouth Clippers that we were promised back in the preseason.
The Clippers, the three-time reigning Class B state boys’ soccer champions, came into 2023 mentioned by some, including their longtime head coach, Mike Hagerty, as a potential all-time powerhouse, but they came down to Earth quickly with a loss in the opener.
That was two weeks ago.
Now, Yarmouth has hit its stride.
Thursday evening at Hannaford Field, the Clippers went to talented Cape Elizabeth for a rematch of last year’s thrilling regional final and it took less than two minutes for Yarmouth to make a statement.
On a highlight reel goal from senior Matt Gautreau.
By halftime, the Clippers led, 2-0, thanks to a goal from Justin Dawes.
But the Capers would roar back and get on the board on a penalty kick from senior Rory O’Grady and have some chances to pull even.
But it wasn’t to be, as Yarmouth got some breathing room on a pretty free kick from senior Adam McLaughlin, which resulted in a goal from senior Jonny Fulton.
Then, as he did early in the game, Gautreau would come up big late as well, scoring on a header to help the Clippers close out a 4-1 victory.
Yarmouth won its fourth straight game, improved to 4-1 and in the process, dropped the Capers to 3-1-1.
“I think we’ve gotten our confidence back,” said McLaughlin. “We just needed to focus in practice. I think we’re doing well.”
As projected
Last fall, it appeared it was Cape Elizabeth’s turn to finally end Yarmouth’s nearly decade-long reign in Class B, as the Capers enjoyed an undefeated regular season and earned the top seed for the regional playoffs, but in the Class B South Final at Lewiston, the Clippers found a way to prevail in a thriller, 3-2, then went on to three-peat with a narrow 3-2 state final win over John Bapst.
After a 2-0 setback at Greely to start the season, the Clippers got healthy fast, blanking visiting Gray-New Gloucester (7-0) and York (3-0), then downing visiting Brunswick, the reigning Class A champion, 3-1 (the lone goal against came on an “own goal”).
Cape Elizabeth has channeled the agony of last year’s playoff defeat into determination to finish the job this time around and the Capers have been impressive early, defeating host York (4-0) and Lake Region (9-1), edging visiting Greely (2-1), then tying visiting Freeport Tuesday (2-2), in a game they let a two-goal lead slip away.
In addition to last year’s playoff thriller, the teams also met twice during the regular season, a 1-1 draw in Yarmouth and surprisingly decisive 3-0 Capers’ home victory.
Entering play Thursday, Yarmouth was 23-2-1 against the Capers in the teams’ past 26 meetings (see sidebar below). This time around, on a very pleasant mid-September night (70 degrees at the start), the Clippers couldn’t have has asked for a better opening statement, one they built on right until the very end.
Cape Elizabeth senior Nathan Ashe steers the ball away from Yarmouth sophomore Gideon Ahrens early in the Clippers’ 4-1 victory Thursday. Hoffer photos.
With 38:18 to play in the first half, just 102 seconds in, junior Zacarias Binda got free on the right side and he launched a shot on goal that Cape Elizabeth senior goalkeeper Raef Curran had to leap for. Curran got a fingertip on the ball but it got behind him and before anyone knew what was happening, out of nowhere soared Gautreau, who headed it home for a quick 1-0 advantage that Yarmouth wouldn’t relinquish.
“I wasn’t 100 percent sure it was going in, but I was there just in case,” said Gautreau. “Zacarias is one of the best ball-handlers on the team and he can go by anyone. He made a great move and a great cross.”
“That’s a tough goal to give up early on,” lamented longtime Cape Elizabeth coach Ben Raymond. “I think Raef got to it but didn’t get it all the way over the bar. They were just quicker to the ball than we were in the box. That woke us a little bit. I think we played well after that.”
Gautreau, a longtime midfielder, moved up top in the early stages of the season and has thrived as a striker.
“Striker is a lot of fun, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” said Gautreau. “They set me up for all my chances.”
“(Matt) makes it so easy for us,” McLaughlin said.
“(Matt’s) never played striker before,” Hagerty added. “We moved him out of necessity. He belongs there. He’s tenacious. He goes after balls and wins balls. He reads angles really, really well. I love his work rate. It’s a smart work rate. He understands time and space really well. He stops-and-goes quickly. He understands his job. He’s really helped our energy. He puts a lot of shots on goal, so he creates other opportunities. He’s been our most important player the first part of the season. He’s helped fill a gap and I’m really proud of him.”
Yarmouth hoped to bury Cape Elizabeth early, but Curran saved a long shot from senior Max Gilbert and Fulton missed just high.
The Capers, who were without several starters, finally got their first good chance in the 30th minute, but a long free kick from junior Cam Leonhirth was headed out to senior Grant Kelley, whose long shot was saved by Clippers senior goalie Ian O’Connor.
After O’Connor saved a shot from O’Grady, Yarmouth doubled its lead with just 2:18 remaining before halftime, as in transition, Binda set up Dawes for a shot Curran couldn’t reach and it was 2-0 at the break.
Cape Elizabeth refused to go quietly when the second half commenced and instead, got right back in the contest.
After O’Connor punched away a shot from freshman Bennet Hooper, junior Tully Haydar drew a foul in the box, resulting in a Capers’ penalty kick.
With 28:32 on the clock, O’Grady did the honors and while O’Connor guessed correctly and moved to his right, he had no chance to stop the PK and suddenly it was a one-goal game.
Cape Elizabeth senior Rory O’Grady cradles the ball and is congratulated by his teammates after scoring on a second half penalty kick.
Cape Elizabeth then hoped to equalize, but three corner kicks were cleared, O’Grady missed wide and O’Connor saved a shot from sophomore Harry Converse.
Gautreau then failed to extend the lead when he got his foot on a nice pass from McLaughlin, but just missed the target.
Yarmouth finally restored its two-goal lead with 11:08 remaining, as McLaughlin sent a free kick toward the far post and Fulton managed to run on to it and send it in for some breathing room.
“I was told to put the ball back post and that’s where I put it,” said McLaughlin.
“I think we got off to a really good start in the second half,” Raymond said. “We got one to make it close. We put a lot of pressure on them and good for them for responding to that pressure. We had a number of chances and had the ball quite a bit. They didn’t panic and they made the most of their opportunities.”
After Clippers senior back Sam Lowenstein got back to break up a rush by Kelley, the Clippers delivered the coup de grace.
With 3:26 remaining, senior Ben Flowerdew sent a cross toward Gautreau in the box and with Curran moving to his right, Gautreau headed the ball to the keeper’s left and into the net.
“It felt great to have another chance,” Gautreau said. “I knew the next chance I got, I had to score. That was a great ball from Benji.”
Yarmouth ran out the clock and celebrated its 4-1 victory.
Yarmouth’s postgame celebration.
“We got a little bit unlucky with the penalty call and we let that shift momentum, which we can’t do, but once we started passing the ball again, we dominated,” McLaughlin said.
“No matter who (Cape’s) missing, they’re talented and quick,” Hagerty said. “We dribbled too much and they stole it and countered. They’re really good. We did a good job resetting and passing the ball. Once we moved the ball, we had more space in the midfield and good things happened. We had a lull a little bit in the second half. They got the PK. We hate giving away goals like that, but I’m happy we didn’t give up a goal from the run of play.”
Each team put seven shots on frame. O’Connor made six saves.
Cape Elizabeth got three saves from Curran and had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
“There’s a lot of great things to take away from this,” said Raymond. “We didn’t wind up on the right side of what we wanted, but it’s the fifth game of the season. I thought we did a nice job in the midfield and moved the ball well. I’m really pleased with how we moved the ball. The next step is being a little more dangerous after possession. That’s something (Yarmouth) does really well.
“We had a hard time dealing with their athleticism. They were first to a lot of balls. They run hard through every single ball. We jogged through some balls and there’s a difference right there. They’re very good in the air, especially in our defensive box. We’re just trying to replace some leaders we had last year who helped direct things, but the kids are figuring it out.
“We just have to focus on doing the little things the right way. We know what we’re pretty good at and we know what we struggle with. We’re focusing on building our strengths. Our weaknesses didn’t really show until today. A lot of kids are getting opportunities. That’s great to see. Now we know we can depend on them in big moments.”
See you in a month
The teams will meet for a second time (a third will likely come in the tournament) Oct. 16 in Yarmouth.
In the meantime, there’s plenty of work to do.
Cape Elizabeth returns to action Tuesday of next week, at home versus Fryeburg Academy. York pays a visit two nights later.
“Our schedule helps us,” Raymond said. “This whole season is about improving as much as we can.”
Yarmouth, which had to reschedule a game at Wells Saturday due to the incoming storm, has a showdown of defending champions at four-time Class C champ Waynflete next Tuesday. The Clippers then have pivotal home games against rivals Greely (Sept. 23) and Freeport (Sept. 26).
“It’s great to face adversity in the regular season so you’re prepared for the postseason,” said Gautreau.
“I think we just have to keep our heads down and keep working as hard as we can,” McLaughlin said. “We won’t underestimate any team.”
“We still have some things to clean up,” Hagerty added. “We just haven’t figured out yet who plays best with whom. The great thing with our schedule is we play very different teams with very different styles. That’s the fun part. You’re facing a different strength every time.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
Recent Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth results
2022
@ Yarmouth 1 Cape Elizabeth 1
@ Cape Elizabeth 3 Yarmouth 0
Class B South Final
Yarmouth 3 Cape Elizabeth 2
2021
Yarmouth 2 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 0
Class B South Final
Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 1
2020
Yarmouth 4 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
2019
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
@ Yarmouth 3 Cape Elizabeth 0
2018
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 1
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
Class B South semifinals
Cape Elizabeth 2 @ Yarmouth 1
2017
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 1
Yarmouth 2 @ Cape Elizabeth 1
2016
@ Yarmouth 1 Cape Elizabeth 0
Yarmouth 3 @ Cape Elizabeth 2
2015
@ Yarmouth 4 Cape Elizabeth 0
Yarmouth 5 @ Cape Elizabeth 1
Class B South quarterfinal
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 0
2014
@ Yarmouth 5 Cape Elizabeth 3
Yarmouth 2 @ Cape Elizabeth 1
2013
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0 (OT)
@ Yarmouth 3 Cape Elizabeth 3 (tie)
Western B semifinals
@ Yarmouth 5 Cape Elizabeth 0
2012
@ Yarmouth 4 Cape Elizabeth 1
Yarmouth 2 @ Cape Elizabeth 1
Cape Elizabeth 2 @ Yarmouth 1
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
2010
@ Cape Elizabeth 1 Yarmouth 1 (tie)
@ Yarmouth 3 Cape Elizabeth 1
2009
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 1
@ Cape Elizabeth 2 Yarmouth 2 (tie)
2008
@ Yarmouth 0 Cape Elizabeth 0 (tie)
@ Cape Elizabeth 3 Yarmouth 1
2007
@ Yarmouth 1 Cape Elizabeth 1 (tie)
@ Cape Elizabeth 3 Yarmouth 1
2006
@ Yarmouth 2 Cape Elizabeth 0
Yarmouth 2 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
@ Yarmouth 0 Cape Elizabeth 0 (tie)
2004
Yarmouth 1 @ Cape Elizabeth 0
2003
Cape Elizabeth 1 @ Yarmouth 0
2002
@ Cape Elizabeth 0 Yarmouth 0 (tie)
2001
@ Yarmouth 1 Cape Elizabeth 0
@ Cape Elizabeth 2 Yarmouth 1
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