CLASS A GIRLS

GORHAM (14-3) vs. BANGOR (14-1-2)

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

OUTLOOK: Gorham makes its return to the Class A final for the first time since being in five straight (winning four) from 2004-08. This is Bangor’s fifth trip in six years, winning in 2011 against Scarborough. … The third-seeded Rams have risen their level of play in the playoffs, beating Scarborough soundly in the semifinal and then routing Marshwood 4-0 in the regional final. The team has melded strong senior leadership from the likes of all-region defenders Cady Houghton and Narissa Libby, and striker Elizabeth Sullivan, with impressive contributions from freshmen Emma Forgues, Hallie Shiers and, increasingly, Brittany Desjardin. All three freshmen scored in the regional final. … Bangor is led by all-region players Sarah Bragg (MF), Emily Gilmore (GK) and Grace Morris (MF). Katie Butler, a 6-foot-2 forward, had a goal and assisted on Maddi Cormier’s late winner in the 3-2 regional final win against No. 1 Camden Hills.

CLASS B GIRLS

GREELY (15-2) vs. HERMON (15-0-2)

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

OUTLOOK: Both teams are looking for a first Class B crown, though Greely played in eight Class A title games between 1986-2004, winning three times (1994, 2000, 2002). Look to the midfield as the key battle. Jocelyn Mitiguy and Ellie Schad of the Rangers, both dangerous scorers in their own right, will need a high work rate against Hermon’s all-region seniors Morgan Buck and Brianna Saulter. Both teams have exciting finishers. Hermon’s top threat is Alex Allain. Rangers senior Izzy Hutnak and freshmen Anna DeWolfe have the finishing touch around the goal. Hermon has the statistically stronger defense with 11 shutouts, including two in the playoffs, while the Rangers likely will be without two injured defensive mainstays in midfielder Caroline Swaney and defender Susannah Jacobson. … The Rangers lost their last two regular-season games to Yarmouth and York, the teams they beat in regional semi and final.

CLASS C GIRLS

WAYNFLETE (14-4) vs. ORONO (15-1-1)

WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Presque Isle Middle School

OUTLOOK: It’s a rematch of the 2013 title game won by Waynflete, 3-2 in double overtime. That was the Flyers’ third Class C title. Orono is looking for its first championship, having made it to three previous finals (it also lost to Waynflete in 2008). Since losing a mid-season game at Sacopee Valley 7-0, the No. 6 Flyers have improved in all facets: scoring, defense, team cohesion. Captain Arianna Giguere is the leader and combines with Ava Farrar to provide most of the offense, including Giguere’s overtime winner in the 3-2 regional final win at Monmouth. … Giguere is one of several players who remain from Waynflete’s 2013 championship team, including Esme Benson, who scored the title-winning goal. … Orono has outscored its playoff opponents 10-0, including beating Bucksport 5-0 in the regional final. Becky Lopez-Anido is a dangerous forward and all-region pick, as were Brinsley Chasse (MF), Jordan Hernandez (D), and Katelyn Richards (GK).

CLASS A BOYS

SCARBOROUGH (15-0-2) vs. LEWISTON (17-0)

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

OUTLOOK: Anticipated matchup of the two No. 1 seeds. The Blue Devils were stopped last year by Cheverus’ Cinderella run but have been inching closer to their first state title for several seasons. This year Lewiston is ranked 22nd in the USA Today/NSCA poll and rolled through the North region. Maslah Hassan and Abdi Shariff-Hassan lead an exciting precision-passing game that has outscored opponents 113-7 – 13-0 in the playoffs. Abdulkarim Abdulle is a top midfielder. Scarborough will have to be alert for dangerous flip throws from Maulid Abdow. The Red Storm also have plenty of threats. Matt Caron has a quality throw that has produced goals in the regional semifinal and final. Up top, Garrett King and Jake Kacer are dangerous in the air and with their feet. Scarborough also has depth, championship DNA (nine Class A titles, including 2012 and 2013, one in Class B), and strong team defense.

CLASS B BOYS

YARMOUTH (15-1-1) vs. ERSKINE ACADEMY (14-4)

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland

OUTLOOK: No. 2 Yarmouth is the defending state champ and is seeking its sixth Class B crown in the last 12 seasons after surviving a double-overtime regional final at Maranacook. No. 10 Erskine beat No. 2 Winslow and No. 3 Presque Isle in penalty kicks before knocking off No. 1 Ellsworth 2-1 in the regional final to earn its first trip to a state final. Yarmouth has been contending with injuries all season but still has significant offense with Patrick Grant, Matt Dostie, Henry Coolidge and Luke Groothoff. The Clippers may get an emotional boost if senior captain Walter Conrad, out since a preseason injury, makes his first start. Erskine is stronger than its seed would suggest, with an all-region forward Trevor Hubbard and veteran Luke Peabody (goal and assist vs. Ellsworth) producing, and senior strength down the spine. Denver Cullivan has played well in goal and controls air space around the goal. Takoda McGraw has handled goalie duties in the two penalty-kick sessions.

CLASS C BOYS

WAYNFLETE (14-2-1) vs. WASHINGTON ACADEMY (17-0)

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Presque Isle Middle School

OUTLOOK: The Flyers’ defense has allowed only five goals all season (none in the playoffs). Led by all-region picks Milo Belleau (goal) and Willy Burdick (D), Waynflete held up well against top-level scoring threats in the Western Maine Conference in the regular season, including handing Class B South champ Yarmouth its only loss. Aaron Lee (8 goals) and Ahmed Mohamed (9 goals) have been the top scorers with Ilyas Abdi adding offensive punch in the playoffs. Washington has outscored its three playoff opponents 17-0. … Both teams have one previous Class C title. Washington beat Waynflete in 2008. The Flyers, who did win three Class D crowns, beat Houlton in 2011. … Only three of Washington’s games have been decided by less than three goals and two of those were against Class B Mount Desert Island. All-region back Jordan Lambe leads the defense. Five players scored in the 6-0 North final against Central, indicative of the Raiders’ team-wide balance.

– Steve Craig