SCARBOROUGH — Gorham High scored 1:01 into the game to give a jolt to top-seeded Scarborough. But the Red Storm rebounded for a 2-1 victory Saturday in a Western Class A boys’ soccer semifinal.

Charlie Mader and Sam Cekada assisted each other for goals to lead the Red Storm.

Scarborough (15-1) moves on to the Western final, which it will host Wednesday against third-seeded Portland (12-2-2). The Bulldogs are the only team to beat Scarborough this year, 1-0 back on Sept. 10.

Fifth-seeded Gorham is done at 12-4-1.

In the first minute, Scarborough keeper Pat Stanton was coming out to get the ball but it was passed out of the box, where Gorham’s Austin Bell drilled it to the back of the net.

“Just a little miscommunication. Unlucky,” Stanton said.

Gorham, which lost in overtime to the Red Storm during the season, had a 1-0 lead.

“A great goal and it gave us a lot of confidence early on,” Gorham Coach Tim King said. “But you’re not going to win the game in the first minute against a team like that.

“It gave us a good start, but we couldn’t carry it through.”

Eventually, Scarborough began taking control, especially with midfielder Wyatt Omsberg patrolling the field.

“He just dictates the flow of the game,” King said.

Mader created a breakaway and led Cekada, who scored on a point-blank shot, tying the game 7:56 into the first half.

“We’ve been playing together for six or seven years,” Mader said of Cekada. “We know where to go for each other. Same mind, almost.”

They struck again early in the second half. Cekada crossed to the near post and Mader buried it for a 2-1 lead just 2:06 into the half.

“Those two connected real nice today,” Scarborough Coach Mark Diaz said.

All Scarborough had to do was hold on against persistent attacks from Bell, along with Cody Elliott, Jackson Potter and Matt Hooker.

At one point Bell wasn’t covered, which Diaz quickly pointed out to his defense.

“We want to keep him marked. He’s had a great career at Gorham and he’s a dangerous player,” Diaz said. “They’ve got some young guys who are really good. We knew they wouldn’t quit.”

Scarborough’s defenders, including Andrew Morrissey, Michael Caryl, Joe Lancaster and Ian Corey, swarmed to squash Gorham’s chances.

The Red Storm have won 14 straight.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or: kthomas@pressherald.comTwitter: ClearTheBases