During the regular season, Cheverus beat Falmouth 2-0 without dynamic forward Emma Gallant and four-year starting midfielder Tholia Hallett.
Playing at full strength on Wednesday with Gallant leading the way, No. 3 Cheverus dominated the rematch, winning 6-0 in a Class A South regional quarterfinal at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
Gallant scored two first-half goals and assisted on the first of two quick second-half goals by Julia Kratzer.
“Through the season we’ve become pretty good about not getting too relaxed with one goal,” Gallant said. “We like to bring it home.”
Gallant opened the scoring in the 15th minute when her corner kick went past the near post and caromed in off the foot of Falmouth goalkeeper Jordan Wolf.
Gallant needed no assistance on her second goal.
A state champion sprinter in track, Gallant raced 35 yards up the right wing, cut into the open middle of the field and unleashed a hard left-footed shot into the upper-right corner.
Cheverus (13-2) advances to Saturday’s South semifinal against the winner of Wednesday’s No. 7 Marshwood at No. 2 Gorham game.
Last year Cheverus lost to Scarborough in the regional semifinal.
“There’s a lot of parity this year. Any team can be beaten on any given day,” said Cheverus Coach Craig Roberts. “There’s just less room for error. We have to play like we did today and minimize even the mistakes that we made today to have a shot. But it’s better to be moving on and have a shot than not.”
Falmouth (9-4-3) had one shot on goal and had little offensive possession after the opening minute of the second half.
Falmouth had allowed nine goals in its first 15 games.
“The goals that we gave up today weren’t very good goals,” said Falmouth Coach Andrew Pelletier. “It’s uncharacteristic of us to give away goals.”
Cheverus extended the lead to 3-0 just 2:44 into the second half when Kratzer, a freshman, knocked in a Gallant cross.
Just over two minutes later, Kratzer one-timed a header by Zoe Mazur for another goal. The play started with a long, well-placed throw-in by Lauren Jordan.
“Lauren, she has a great throw and Zoe is so tall and athletic and she’s not afraid to use her head. That can be a weapon for us if we get it into the right part of the field,” Roberts said.
Jordan chipped in a loose ball with 26:24 to play after a failed Falmouth clear of a corner kick and Mia Kratzer scored Cheverus’ sixth goal with 7:24 to play.
Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or:
scraig@pressherald.com
Twitter: SteveCCraig
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