CAPE ELIZABETH — It was a game that would come down to one shot.
Karyn Barrett sent a perfect feed to Maddy Riker late in the second half Friday to break open a scoreless duel and give eighth-seeded Cape Elizabeth a 1-0 victory against ninth-ranked Deering in a Western Class A preliminary girls’ soccer game.
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Riker took the feed on the run just inside the 18 and placed it in the far corner with 14:56 to play, past Deering goalie Jen Lynch, who had a standout game.
“No one wanted our season to end,” said Barrett.
“We worked hard the whole game. We really deserved it. We were looking to finish. That goalie came up with some big-time saves.”
The victory set up a Tuesday quarterfinal for the Capers (8-5-2) at top-ranked Scarborough (14-0).
Friday’s match was an evenly matched possession oriented game, with an edge in scoring chances to Cape.
Barrett alone had multiple chances sail just wide, over the crossbar, or end up in the hands of Lynch at the final second.
“She’s been working really hard on finding feet. She makes players around her better,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Gary Newell. “I thought (Lynch) didn’t have a chance on one shot.”
the second half it was becoming clear one good shot might do it.
The loss ended the high school career for 12 Deering seniors, a group, said Coach Kevin Olson, that has been the class of the program.
“They have so much heart and passion,” said Olson. “This senior class has really helped make this program.”
Deering threatened multiple times in the waning moments, getting chances from several players, including two impressive freshmen: Alexis Elowitch and Cole Spike.
Lynch kept it 1-0, turning aside a breakaway shot by Talley Perkins late in the game.
“We knew we were down and it could be the last game,” said Elowitch. “We wanted to put the pressure on and try to win for our seniors. Our goalie played amazing. She made so many amazing saves.”
Lynch finished with 10 saves.
“She’s really developed into a phenomenal keeper,” he said. “We can all walk away from this game with our heads held high.”
Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at: jmenendez@pressherald.com
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