Playing at home last Friday, Gorham defeated Scarborough, 2-1, with the difference ultimately coming down to 17 seconds.

The Red Storm trailed, 1-0, when Sarah Bonenfant scored off a penalty corner, beating Gorham goalie Rachel Lolley with 12:37 to play in the game.

“We tie it up and we take a breath saying ‘Phew, we’re back into this; okay we can do this,” said Scarborough coach Kerry Mariello.

But the breath had hardly left their lungs and the words had barely left their lips when Gorham took the lead again.

With possession after Scarborough’s goal, Gorham’s Megan Hamilton, Leigh Maniscalco, Kayleigh Ballantyne and Melanie Hallsworth worked the ball up field where Hallsworth beat Red Storm goalie Erika Schneller.

“I tell (Hallsworth) to let the girls get as far up the field as you can and they just did a nice job with their passing,” said Gorham Coach Amber Hatch.

The go-ahead goal hit the back of the cage a mere 17 seconds after Scarborough (6-3) had tied the game.

“You take a deep breath when you tie it up,” Mariello said. “That’s all it takes sometimes. That little breath and they capitalized on it.”

Gorham (7-0-1) had gone up, 1-0, on a penalty stroke by Megan Norton. The stroke was awarded when a Scarborough player – not the goalie – saved what the officials deemed to be an sure goal with her foot while on the goal line.

“I actually scored on a penalty stroke last game, too,” Norton said. “I was a little nervous hoping it would happen again. There were definitely butterflies going on.”

Norton shook off the butterflies and put her shot high into the left corner.

Gorham ended Scarborough’s season last year in the regional final and this year both teams are among the best in Class A. In this week’s Heal Point standings Gorham is ranked No. 1 while Scarborough is ranked No. 3.

“It’s hard coming on to someone else’s turf when you have a big bull’s eye on your back,” Mariello said. “Especially when you’re ranked pretty high and they know what your (Heal Point) value is.”

With the Red Storm looking to avenge last season’s playoff defeat the win was special for the Rams.

“It definitely means something extra,” Norton said. “We beat them in the playoffs last year and they definitely had it out for us this year. They are a great team and we really, really wanted this win.”

Scarborough faced off against Marshwood (0-7) on Tuesday and plays at home against Thornton Academy on Saturday (1-5-2).

Gorham played Thornton on Tuesday and plays at home tonight against Windham (3-5).

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