LEWISTON (13-2-2) VS. PORTLAND (13-3-1)
WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday
WHERE: Deering Memorial Field
OUTLOOK: Portland has a chance to win its first state title under Rocco Frenzilli, who helped start the program in 1972 before taking over as coach in 1976. The Bulldogs have advanced to the Class A championship game twice – first in 1994 and again in 2010 – and lost both times by one goal. Portland has outscored opponents 35-11 and boasts a balanced offense led by Zekariya Shaib (seven goals), Alex Millones (five goals), Tahn Tiparos (five goals) and Pedro Fonseca (four goals). But anybody on the squad can step up when necessary, with Samuel Nkurunziza and Berrick Bobe accounting for the goals in a 2-1 semifinal victory against Thornton Academy. Portland has a solid defense backed by defender Quinn Clarke and goalkeeper Rowan Daligan, who has six shutouts. Lewiston, which grabbed its first state title in 2015, advanced to the Class A championship game by upsetting Bangor, the defending state champion, 2-1. Though it’s only his first season in goal, sophomore Dido Lumu stopped a point-blank shot in the final minutes to help end Bangor’s 31-game unbeaten streak. The Blue Devils outscored opponents 55-16 this season and like Portland, enjoy a wide range of threats. Six players accounted for their 10 postseason goals, with Bilal Hersi leading the team with three, and Noralddin Othman and Muktar Ali both contributing two apiece.
CLASS B BOYS
YARMOUTH (17-0) VS. WINSLOW (15-3)
WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Deering Memorial Field
OUTLOOK: The Clippers are one win from a four-peat, which would make them one of just three large schools to win four consecutive state titles. The other two are Scarborough (Class A, 1973-76) and Falmouth (Class B, 2000-03). Along with that milestone, a win in the championship-game rematch against Winslow would give Yarmouth its 12th title – passing Falmouth for the most in state history – while extending the team’s two-season winning streak to 23 and its unbeaten streak to 30. The Clippers appear ready for the challenge, outscoring opponents 82-9 while getting goals from 24 players this season. Eric LaBrie leads the way with 25 goals and 10 assists, and Luke Groothoff, Max Coury, Tahj Garvey and Jack Jones have all seven goals. Yarmouth’s defense is anchored by goalkeeper Cal Owen, and defenders Silas Chappell and John D’Appolonia. Winslow has lost three times in the state championship game, including 5-2 to Yarmouth last season, but the Black Raiders returned 12 seniors – nine or 10 usually start. The veteran squad has outscored opponents 84-11, including 17 postseason goals. Offensively, they are led by Isaac Lambrecht (26 goals), Caleb Burbank (18 goals) and Jake Warn, who has five of his 17 goals in the playoffs – including a hat trick in a 3-1 victory against Washington Academy in the Class B North final. Anchoring the back line are center defender Mike Wildes and goalkeeper Jake Lapierre, who has notched eight shutouts for Winslow.
CLASS A GIRLS
CAMDEN HILLS (16-0-1) VS. SCARBOROUGH (16-0-1)
WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Deering Memorial Field
OUTLOOK: After winning its first state championship in 2016, Camden Hills has a chance to defend its Class A title. All but four girls played on last season’s team that defeated Gorham 1-0 in overtime in the state final. The Windjammers have 112 goals this season, topping the 109 they totaled last year. Sophomore Kris Kelly leads Camden Hills with 38 goals, while three upperclassmen – seniors Claire Pierce and Camryn Langille, and junior Grace Blackwell – anchor the defense. The Windjammers have allowed 12 goals this season but will face a dangerous pair of scoring threats in Scarborough forwards Gaby Panagakos and Molly Murnane. After falling to Gorham 2-0 in last season’s Class A South championship game, the Red Storm returned all but one starter and have 71 goals this year. Panagakos leads the Red Storm with 20 goals – including two in their 2-1 comeback victory against Windham in the regional semifinals. A transfer from Maryland, Murnane trails only Panagakos in goals with 16 – three in Scarborough’s 6-0 regional championship victory over Kennebunk. The Red Storm have allowed six goals all season and never more than one in a game, and goalkeeper Emily Royce has 10 shutouts. Scarborough will look to end its four-year title drought with a fifth state championship.
CLASS B GIRLS
YARMOUTH (17-0) VS. PRESQUE ISLE (13-4)
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Deering Memorial Field
OUTLOOK: Only three teams have been able to get past Yarmouth’s defense, which has allowed just four goals all season while scoring 84. Sara D’Appolonia leads the Clippers’ offense with 32 goals – a school record. Olivia Feeley and Sophia Harpool anchor their back line, and goalkeeper Meredith Lane has recorded 14 shutouts. With new coach Chris Coleman at the helm, Yarmouth edged Cape Elizabeth 1-0 in Thursday’s regional championship game with a second-half goal from Ehryn Groothoff, earning an opportunity to defend its Class B state title. The Clippers are riding a 22-game winning streak, and one more victory would earn them their fourth state championship overall. Presque Isle has never won a state title, losing to Falmouth in both previous appearances (2008 and 2011). But the Wildcats are coming off a stunning 1-0 win over Hermon, preserved when goalkeeper Savannah Rodriguez made a diving save on a penalty kick in the second half by punching away the tying shot. Junior Madison Michaud leads the Wildcats’ offense with 34 goals this season for a total of 86 – breaking both the school’s single-season and career scoring records. Rodriguez has seven shutouts for Presque Isle, which has outscored opponents 53-15 this season.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
