The new school year has just started and the Gorham High girls soccer team passed its first test of the season. The Rams scored a 2-0 victory at Scarborough on Tuesday evening in a rematch of last year’s West A regional championship.

“I think we know Scarborough really well – who to defend, who to mark,” said Gorham coach Jeanne Zarrilli, explaining how her squad won this early season battle of playoff-bound contenders. “And we kept our composure in the midfield. We maintained our passing game.”

Gorham forwards Rachele Burns, Molly Folan, Kristi Zarrilli, Kylie Perrin and Taylor Sullivan pressured the Scarborough defense from the outset. Burns briefly got behind that defense with 23 minutes left in the first half for the Rams’ first decent chance at scoring, but the Red Storm forced her into a weaker than expected shot.

Scarborough’s Megan Cowie, Lindsey Hagerman, Katherine Thorpe and Katie Horgan all played well defensively as they turned away several Gorham threats and Red Storm goalkeeper Abby Van Note took corralled every ball coming near the net.

The Rams solved the Red Storm defense with 15:35 left in the first half when Burns centered a pass from the right side that found Kristi Zarrilli. The sophomore’s quick kick beat Van Note and the visitors led 1-0.

Three minutes later it was Burns again – this time with a clear shot from 15 yards out that Van Note got a hand on, sending it over the goal.

Scarborough had a pair of scoring chances late in the half as a corner kick produced a header that nearly found its mark with eight minutes to play. And a kick by Alexandra Pastore in the final minute of the half sailed just wide of the Gorham net to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.

Gorham senior Katie Zarrilli hit the crossbar off a direct kick 10 minutes into the second half and a series of corners two minutes later nearly increased the Rams’ advantage – Caitlin Caldwell almost connected with a header off a corner kick from Molly Folan.

The Red Storm continued to look for the equalizer with forwards Alex Laniewski and Courtney Hughes pressuring Gorham goalie Luci Pike. But Scarborough was unable to get any real good shots at the Rams’ net. A kick by Scarborough’s Devon Leighton sailed toward Pike and eluded her grasp, which produced a corner kick for the Storm. That opportunity turned into a shot by Pastore that went over the Gorham net.

Meanwhile, Burns and Katie Zarrilli were taking turns hitting the post at the other end of the field. Lindsay Wilson booted the rebound from Zarrilli’s shot into the net for a 2-0 Gorham lead with 4:50 left in regulation.

Scarborough’s last chance at scoring came in the final minute of play when Laniewski took a corner kick from Lexi Udeh and kneed it just over the Gorham goal.

The Rams are now 2-0 on the year including their 5-0 win against Deering in the season opener last Friday. They host South Portland on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Scarborough moves to 1-1 with Tuesday evening’s loss. The Storm topped Kennebunk by a 4-1 score last Friday afternoon.