PORTLAND—Falmouth’s boys’ soccer team has focused on getting better as the season has progressed and with the playoffs nearing, it appears the Navigators could be a very dangerous foe.
Monday afternoon against Cheverus at Boulos Stadium, visiting Falmouth took advantage of opportunities and rolled to a decisive victory, one that likely guarantees it will host at least one postseason contest.
The Navigators got the only goal they needed when junior Evan Mayo scored in the 16th minute. Senior captain Mikey Christman then hinted at a big game to come when he doubled the lead in the 26th minute.
Falmouth ended all doubt in the second half, as Christman scored two more goals, then junior Sam Yoon buried a free kick to bring the curtain down on a 5-0 victory.
The Navigators improved to 5-4-2 on the year and in the process, dropped the Stags to 4-8.
“The goal this season was to get a little bit better every day,” said longtime Falmouth coach Dave Halligan, after his 428th career victory. “We’re small and we’re quick. We won’t get into physical games with anybody. If we use our speed and skill, we’ll be in every game.”
Lurking
Falmouth isn’t considered a top Class A South contender this year, but the Navigators are dangerous and have had some promising results over the course of a building season.
Falmouth started by tying visiting Deering (1-1) and after losing at Gorham (4-1), beating visiting South Portland (1-0). After a 2-0 loss at powerhouse Portland, the Navigators downed visiting Marshwood (3-1) and host Thornton Academy (2-0), then handed visiting Windham its lone blemish (a 1-1 draw). Falmouth then lost at Scarborough (4-0) and after beating visiting Biddeford (3-2), fell at Kennebunk last Thursday (3-1).
Cheverus, meanwhile, started with losses at Marshwood (4-1) and Deering (5-3), then blanked visiting Thornton Academy (3-0). After a 5-1 setback at Bonny Eagle, the Stags edged visiting Massabesic in an overtime thriller (5-4) before falling at Windham (4-0), at home to Westbrook (4-3) and at home to Gorham (2-0). Cheverus then won back-to-back games for the first time, 3-2 at Biddeford and 7-1 at Noble, before falling at home in a wild one to Scarborough, 6-3, Friday.
Last year, the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Falmouth.
Monday, on a windy but sunny holiday afternoon (60 degrees at the start), the Stags sought their first win over the Navigators since Sept. 4, 2018, but instead, Falmouth controlled play most of the way.
Cheverus freshman Jonah Nathanson shields the ball from Falmouth freshman Simon Wissink during the Navigators’ 5-0 victory Monday. Hoffer photos.
Cheverus had the game’s first chance, but senior Shane McGrath’s 30-yard free kick was snared by Falmouth sophomore goalkeeper Caden Berry.
After Navigators senior Alex Findlay had a long shot saved by Stags freshman Griffin MacLeod, MacLeod denied Mayo’s low bid.
But with 24:16 left in the first half, off a corner kick, the ball came to Christman, who crossed it to Mayo, who headed it home to put Falmouth in front for good.
MacLeod tried to hold the Navigators at bay, robbing sophomore Ali Carter on a breakaway, but with 14:29 remaining before the break, Yoon ripped a shot that MacLeod managed to save only to see the rebound sit free and Christman knocked it home to make it 2-0.
Late in the half, Mayo missed just high, Christman was robbed, MacLeod made a save on a shot from Carter, then Mayo sent a rocket just wide.
“I’d be more concerned if we didn’t have chances,” Halligan said. “The chances were there. We’ll work in practice on putting those away.”
Falmouth then pulled away in the second half.
Falmouth junior Sam Yoon runs after a loose ball as Cheverus freshman Chris Bitagilayi, left, and senior Anton Behuniak give chase.
After MacLeod punched away a Mayo shot on a corner, the visitors made it 3-0 with 35:02 to go, as Yoon served the ball in off a corner, it deflected off the head of Cheverus junior back Emil Strock and Christman was the beneficiary of the rebound at the far post and he sent it into the net.
“(Mikey) had plenty of opportunities today,” Halligan said.
After Findlay and Mayo were off target, the Stags had their best look with 23:47 remaining, but Berry dove to rob McGrath on a free kick.
After MacLeod dove to deny Christman, saved a shot and a rebound bid from Christman, then with 11:19 left, Mayo set up Christman for his third and final goal.
“The game plan is playing through balls because we have speed up top and we use that to our advantage,” Christman said. “Playing through balls and getting as many chances as we can is what we want to do. I was just there to finish goals.”
A mere 64 seconds later, off a 25-yard free kick, Yoon got in the scoring column by launching the ball over the defensive wall, over the hand of MacLeod and off the underside of the crossbar and in.
“I was really happy with that free kick, but I was completely happy just feeding my teammates for the goals,” Yoon said. “I was going near post, but it went center. I got a good bounce. It felt good.”
“Sam does things you can’t teach or coach,” Halligan said. “It was good to see him get one there.”
Falmouth then inserted a bevy of reserves and ran out the clock on its 5-0 victory.
“We have a lack of varsity experience, but we’ve gotten better as the season’s gone on,” Yoon said. “The best games we play are when we have the most fun.”
“I think when we’re working together as a team and stringing together plays and focusing, we can beat any team if we play well,” Christman said. “If we don’t get down on ourselves, we can be a team to be reckoned with.”
The Navigators out-shot the Stags, 18-4, got four saves from Berry and had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
Cheverus got 13 saves from MacLeod, but couldn’t hold Falmouth at bay.
“When you’re young like we are, trying to be consistent is tough,” first-year Stags coach Ben Schulz said. “Some days you show up and battle hard. Some days you shot up and fall flat. You have to be patient and trust we’re heading in the right direction and that we’ll get there.
“Falmouth’s always stout defensively. We had a game plan coming in, but when you’re under pressure and you’re 14 years old, it’s easy to forget the game plan and you react instead of playing the way we wanted to play.”
One week left
Cheverus (11th in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time, where 12 teams make the playoffs) plays at Sanford Thursday, then closes at home next Tuesday with a pivotal game versus rival Deering.
“We’re in the mix,” Schulz said. “It’s between Marshwood, (Thornton Academy) and us for the last spot. We have to do the best we can and see where it falls. It’s about staying positive and coming out and playing a good game Thursday and another one next Tuesday.
“We’ve had a lot of games to be proud of. We’ve played against teams in the upper end of the standings. We want to win, but we’re proud of where we’re at and we’ll take a lot of positives away from the season at a whole.”
Falmouth (seventh in Class A South) is back in action Tuesday at home against Noble. After traveling to Massabesic Thursday, the Navigators finish at home versus Sanford next Tuesday.
“We won’t underestimate anybody,” Yoon said.
“Our goal is to win all three games and get clean sheets, so we can go in with some momentum,” said Christman.
“We’re hoping to play at home for playoffs at least for the first game.”
“We’re unbeaten at home, so we hope to get at least one home game and we’ll see what happens from there,” Halligan added. “We know anything can happen if we’re ready. It’s like pulling teeth sometimes, but the young kids are coming along. We’re not playing like freshmen and sophomores anymore. They’ve paid their dues. Hopefully, we’ll play our best soccer at the end.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. For game updates and links to game stories, follow him on Threads: @foresports2023
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