Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

September 27, 2012

Girls' Soccer Notebook: Waynflete keeps finding a way to remain unbeaten

By Paul Betit pbetit@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Unbeaten Waynflete has shown it's a team that refuses to lose.

The Flyers, 4-0-3 going into Thursday's home game against Traip Academy, have had to come from behind three times to remain unbeaten.

"We're playing everybody tough and we're still trying to figure out everybody's duties," Coach Todd Dominski said.

The Flyers are missing much of the offense from the team that made it to the Western Class C championship game last season.

Graduation claimed Becky Smith and Ella Millard, who totaled more than 40 goals a year ago.

"It's hard to replace that," Dominski said. "We move the ball well and our forwards are getting to the right spots. We just need to be a little quicker to get to the spots and get the killer instinct to put the ball in."

Waynflete has just 10 goals in its seven games but has managed to come up with the big goal when needed.

On Sept. 15, Waynflete rallied for three goals in the last 20 minutes to pull out a 3-2 victory at Freeport.

The Flyers also had to come from behind in the final eight minutes to forge a 1-1 tie with Gray-New Gloucester, and a 2-2 tie with Old Orchard Beach.

"A lot of different people have stepped up," said Katherine Harwood, a senior defender sidelined with an ankle injury. "We don't have really one player who can score. We have (different) people who have scored throughout the season, which is really nice."

Arianna Giguere, a freshman striker, and Walker Froehl, a junior midfielder, each have three goals.

"We tied some games, which is a little disappointing, but we've taken steps in the right direction," said Sadie Cole, a senior midfielder.

"We don't really have a weak link out there."

Although Harwood has been out of the lineup for two weeks, the Flyers remain tough defensively.

"Our defense is as solid as it's ever been," Cole said. "I feel really comfortable about our defense, and I always know they have my back."

In seven games, Waynflete has allowed seven goals while posting three shutouts.

With a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, the Flyers have yet to play the toughest teams on their schedule.

Upcoming are matches against Class A Greely and Cape Elizabeth, and Class D power Richmond.

"Playing against tougher competition gets us ready for the playoffs," Dominski said. "Going out and rolling over teams doesn't help you get better. It doesn't help you get quicker. You need to play people who are going to push you to see what you have."

"Our team definitely has the mentality that when we go into games against these much tougher teams, that we step it up so we can play at their level," Harwood said. "It would be amazing to win against a Cape or a Greely so we really do step it up."

The Flyers are one of the two teams in Maine with three ties.

Maranacook, which is in Western Class B, has a 3-1-3 record going into Thursday's game against Belfast in Readfield. 

UNBEATEN SCARBOROUGH'S toughest week of the regular season will continue Thursday night when the Red Storm journey to Saco to take on undefeated Thornton Academy.

Tuesday night, the Red Storm pulled out a 2-1 victory against Deering for their eighth win of the season.

It was the first goal of the season allowed by the two-time defending Western Class A champions, who have scored 23 goals.

The Golden Trojans, who are 8-0 after Wednesday night's victory against Biddeford, have outscored opponents by a 47-4 margin while posting four shutouts.

Saturday afternoon, Scarborough will be home against unbeaten Windham, which has outscored its first eight opponents 36-5 while posting five shutouts.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH

 

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