For the fourth consecutive season, Waynflete’s boys’ soccer team stands atop Class C, but this fall, the Flyers not only were the best squad, they also featured the most prolific scorer in the state.

A standout player who capped one of the most sensational seasons in recent history with a final week to remember.

Waynflete, ranked first in Class C South after another strong regular season, had no trouble with eighth-ranked Oak Hill in the quarterfinals (prevailing, 8-0), then came alive in the second half to eliminate No. 5 Traip Academy (6-2) in the semifinals.

Last Wednesday, the Flyers went to Topsham to take on No. 2 Mt. Abram in the regional final for the second straight year. While the teams’ meeting in 2021 came down to the wire, this time, Waynflete blanked the Roadrunners, 3-0, as senior standout Myles Culley produced all three goals, one coming in the first half and two more in the second.

“I’m just happy to be here, happy to bring the win home,” Culley said. “Credit to Mt. Abram. They are a good squad, but I am proud of (our) boys.”

“It took us a little while in the first half to settle into our game,” longtime Flyers coach Brandon Salway said. “Mt. Abram is good team. Darren (Allen) does great job with them. So it took a little time to settle in. You are playing against a team you haven’t played this year. It takes a little time to figure them out a little bit.”

Waynflete then met Fort Kent in the state game Saturday in Hampden and again, the Flyers pulled away as the game went on and prevailed, 6-1, to finish the year 16-1-1 with their fourth consecutive Class C championship.

Jacob Woodman scored a goal in the second minute to put Waynflete ahead to stay. In the 28th minute, Culley scored to make it 2-0 and he was far from finished.

After Fort Kent scored midway through the second half to cut the Flyers’ lead to 2-1. Culley scored four goals in a span of 14 minutes to turn the game into a rout. Culley finished with five goals in the game and 52 for the season (out of Waynflete’s 89 goals total), tying the state record set by Sumner’s Damon Warren in 2018.

“What a way to go out,” said Culley. “To win a Gold Ball with your teammates and do it like that in your last game, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

“We’re proud of our performance and we’re proud of winning a fourth straight,” Salway said. “Fort Kent aggressively attacked our outside backs and Dana (Bigelow) and Dudley (Holdridge) had outstanding games. Matt (Adey) and Liam (Anderson) provided great cover. Roan (Hopkins) really controlled the middle and we maintained our composure after they cut the deficit to 2-1 and answered right back.

“This has been a special group to work with. We beat a lot of excellent teams along the way. This is definitely one of our best seasons ever.”

Salway added that like everyone else, he marveled over what Culley brought the program this fall.

“Myles had such an amazing season,” Salway said. “I feel a little responsible for him not achieving the state record actually. I did take him out of several games with 25 or 30 minutes to go. He displayed such great technical ability, it seemed the ball was attached to his feet. He could get through several defenders and create space for his shot or deliver a quality ball for a teammate. He’s a special player and a great young man.”

While Culley leads the list of 10 special seniors who will depart, Waynflete will be heard from again in 2023 and another Gold Ball coming back to the school’s trophy case wouldn’t surprise anyone.

“We graduate seven starters,” Salway said. “Great players and leaders in our program, so next season will be a challenge, as it was last year. As we always do, we will hope our younger players continue to develop and be able to step in to new roles and positions.”

Waynflete girls fall short

The Flyers girls couldn’t quite get to the state game themselves, but the program’s future is very bright.

Waynflete, seeded fifth in Class C South, knocked off No. 4 Monmouth Academy (6-0) in the quarterfinals and ousted No. 8 Traip Academy (3-0) in the semifinals to set up a date with No. 2 Maranacook in last Wednesday’s regional final.

There, the Flyers finally met their match, falling, 2-0, to finish the year 12-5, their best mark since 2015.

“We were thrilled with how the team came together this season,”said Carrie Earls, who co-coaches Waynflete with George Sherry. “We lost our entire back line, including the goalie, to graduation last year, so we were a little worried about the make-up of our defense, but we got huge contributions from two freshmen, Liza Lawson and Grace Alexander, and sophomore Fallon Culley, who settled into one of the best defensive lines in Class C.  We recorded 10 shutouts, only letting up 19 goals, with seven coming against Cape and seven (in two games) against (Class D champion) NYA.

“Our veterans took care of business in the midfield and up top. We got 22 goals and five assists from Lucy Hart. Iris Stutzman scored nine goals and recorded five assists and Morgan(Earls) scored five goals and notched 10 assists for us this season.”

Waynflete graduates Stutzman, Maya Flores, Lucy Sarno and Yen Wilson, but the core of this team returns, including standouts Alexander, Earls, Hart, Olson and goalkeeper Ayla Stutzman, who was just a freshman in 2022.

“We’re excited to be returning most of our starting lineup and excited for the eighth grade class we have coming in,” Carrie Earls said. “We hope to test ourselves a bit next year with a tougher regular season schedule to hopefully better prepare us for some of the physicality we are bound to see late in the playoffs.

“We’re hoping to make another deep run.”

Sun Journal staff writer Tony Blasi and Kennebec Journal staff writer Mike Mandell contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Lana Legend leads Scarborough to elusive Gold Ball

Next »

Cheverus’ repeat dreams dashed by Skowhegan in state game