GORHAM — For a team that just won its first regional soccer title in 33 years, the Gorham boys remained quite reserved after collecting the Class A South championship plaque Wednesday night.

“I don’t think it’s hit all of us yet – I know it hasn’t hit me,” midfielder Tyler Richman said. “We’re not going to start celebrating just yet. We’ll start celebrating after Saturday.”

The top-ranked Rams edged sixth-seeded Portland 1-0 at Gorham High and will meet Bangor in the state final at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Sam Burghardt scored the only goal off a Tyler Richman corner kick with 36:10 left.

“We’ve had some good teams but we just haven’t been able to get over the hump,” said Tim King, who has coached the Rams (16-0-1) for 17 years. “It feels good to get to this game. We’re hoping we can go one more.”

The Bulldogs (12-4-2) had advanced by knocking off No. 3 Deering and No. 2 Falmouth in the playoffs.

“It’s because of their heart,” Portland Coach Rocco Frenzilli said. “I’ve never been prouder of a group of players. They deserve to be here. They gave everything they had.”

Portland’s defense proved a challenge for the Rams, who averaged five goals a game in the regular season and outscored two playoff opponents – Westbrook and Scarborough – 8-2.

The Bulldogs also kept Gorham’s top scorer, Jackson Fotter, from adding to his season total of 35 goals.

“We really couldn’t generate our chances like we usually do and that was frustrating for us,” King said. “Their quickness bothered us and we were lucky to get that goal.”

After an even first half, the teams were scoreless. Portland had a 6-5 edge on shots and largely controlled possession.

King said he talked to his seniors at halftime.

“I wouldn’t say I called them out but they needed to play better,” King said. “You have to have your best players play well in the big games and I didn’t feel like they played well in the first half.”

The Bulldogs nearly scored in the first minute of the second half when Alex Millones’ corner kick nearly bent into Gorham’s goal before Alex York made the save.

Gorham answered back by creating opportunities off three corner kicks in the first four minutes – on the third, Burghardt headed the ball in.

“It was just a great ball from Tyler (Richman) and it just happened to land on my head,” Burghardt said. “Our coach always tells us we need to make a big play. I made that big play today.”

Early in the regular season, Gorham notched a 3-0 win over Portland.

“They’re just a solid defense and they learned after the first game how to defend us,” Gorham midfielder Ethan Orach said. “They had us for most of the game but we finished it in the end.”

York and Rowan Daligan of Portland each recorded three saves.

The last time Gorham competed in a state final was 1983 where it lost to Waterville, 3-2. But from 1970 to 1981, Gorham won seven titles.

Bangor (15-1-1) won its last state title in 2010, edging Portland, 3-2.

“With the way our chemistry is and the way we’ve been playing with each other for the past nine or 10 years,” Orach said, “I think we’re going to come out with a good result.”

Related Stories