– By MARK JEANNERET

Special to the Press Herald

Additional Photos

John Ewing/Staff Photographer Michael Hickey, left, Theo Bullock, Pierce Twohig and Josh Mitchell of York celebrate Bullock’s goal early in the second half Monday night. The Wildcats (11-1-2) locked up the top seed in the Western Class B tournament. Yarmouth finished 9-4-1 and will be the No 2 or 3 seed.

John Ewing/Staff Photographer Yarmouth keeper Andrew Fochler dives for a loose ball as defender David Murphy, left, backs him up. Fochler made the start in place of Christopher Knaub, who was injured. Fochler’s stepbrother, Nathan Diffin, is York’s keeper.

YARMOUTH – Theo Bullock scored the lone goal of the game to lead York to a 1-0 win over Yarmouth in a Western Maine Conference boys’ soccer game Monday night at Yarmouth High School.

The win allowed the Wildcats to clinch first place in the Western Class B Heal point standings with a record of 11-1-2. York finished the regular season with four consecutive victories and was unbeaten in its final eight games (7-0-1).

Yarmouth finished 9-4-1 and will head into the postseason as either the second or third seed. The Clippers’ position will depend on the result of Falmouth’s home game against Cape Elizabeth tonight.

Bullock’s goal came off a play deep in the York end 4:58 into the second half. Liam Langaas came up with the loose ball and sent it to midfield, where Bullock outran the defense and beat Clippers’ keeper Andrew Fochler.

“They were stepping up really hard the whole game and we recognized that,” said Bullock after scoring his third goal of the season.

“I think it was a corner kick or something and it just got cleared out over the defense. Me and Pierce (Twohig) were both there and I was just a little bit ahead of him going in. I just took a couple of touches and waited for the goalie to commit and just slid it in the corner.”

The goal was the only blemish for Fochler, who was forced into action due to an injury to Yarmouth starter Christopher Knaub. The timing was ironic as the junior keeper got the opportunity to play head-to-head against his stepbrother, York keeper Nathan Diffin.

According to Yarmouth Coach Mike Haggerty, Knaub suffered a suspected concussion against Falmouth on Saturday and was kept out of the game for precautionary reasons. The senior keeper is expected back for the playoffs.

The final 35 minutes of regulation saw Yarmouth manage to muster only one quality scoring chance in an attempt to tie the game. Ryan Maguire made solid contact on a free kick from about 45 yards out that was handled with ease by Diffin.

“There’s a reason York’s No. 1,” said Haggerty. “I think they’re the best team in (Class) B right now and certainly one of the best teams in the state.

“I thought our kids really gave them a heck of a game, especially in the first half. I was really proud of our effort tonight.”

The Clippers had a couple of chances in the opening half to get on the board, the best of which was a header by Eamon Costello that beat the goalkeeper and appeared destined for the back of the net. However, York defender Samuel Rickerich appeared out of nowhere to head the ball up and over the crossbar.

York answered with a couple of chances of its own to open the scoring. Twohig struck a ball that was tipped away by Fochler 26 minutes into the opening half. Four minutes later a header by Langaas was knocked away by a diving Fochler, leaving the first half scoreless.

“We are on a good run and we have been playing our best soccer recently, although I don’t think this was our best game,” said York second-year coach Mike Masi.

“It was a good game and when you’re playing against teams like Yarmouth and Falmouth, they’ve won every championship in the past decade, and we still need that confidence to know, ‘Yes we do belong here. Yes we can play with them.’ This just validates that.”

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