FALMOUTH – Seth Freudenberger kept looking at the clock and wondering why it seemed to be going so slow.
His Bangor High teammates were trying to protect a one-goal lead in the second half, and Portland kept coming and coming and coming.
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“We were just trying to get the ball out as soon as possible to try and diffuse any danger,” said Freudenberger, a senior back. “It was the same all night long. Every single one, my heart stopped.”
Well, the Rams held and came away with their second Class A boys’ soccer state title Saturday, edging Portland, 3-2.
Bangor senior Phil Frost scored three goals in a wild first half that produced all the scoring. And then the Rams’ defense held on.
“That was a game worthy of a state final,” said David Patterson, Bangor’s third-year coach.
It was. And fittingly, it came down to the final seconds.
Portland had two penalty corners and three quality chances in the final two minutes. Freudenberger headed out the first; the second — a long shot by Paley Burlin — was just wide of the right post; the final — a blast by Bulldogs star Fazal Nabi from inside the box — was blocked by a mass of Bangor defenders.
“The effort we put forth we never quit,” said Bulldogs Coach Rocco Frenzilli. “We saw that, after they had the one goal that put them ahead, we knew they were going to become tough defensively. They withdrew players and did exactly what they needed to do to protect the lead.”
Bangor, which also won the title in 2006, finished 17-0-1. Portland finished 15-2-1.
“Early in the season we were shaky,” said Freudenberger. “And now, to come this far and get the Gold Ball, it really completes our season and makes everyone feel good.”
Frost was easily the individual star, with three well-placed shots.
“He’s a man among boys,” Patterson said of Frost, who finished the season with 26 goals and eight assists. “All season he’s been our go-to guy. And what better stage to do what he did?”
Frost scored just 4:23 into the game, taking a through pass from Luke Hetterman on the right and beating goalkeeper Taylor Mannix.
Portland came back to take the lead on goals by Tim Rovnak just 29 seconds apart.
Frost struck again with 12:37 left in the half, this time splitting two defenders and putting a low shot just inside the left post.
Just over two minutes later, he put Bangor ahead for good, scoring on a direct kick.
“When I set up I told myself to calm down and hit a good one,” Frost said. “I was trying to place it more than rocket it.”
Portland protested that an indirect kick had been called. But the goal stood. And stood. And stood.
Portland’s attack was relentless in the second half, the Bulldogs getting off many quality shots. But each one went wide or was blocked.
Bangor keeper Jesse Perkins made a game-saving tip of a Nabi shot, sending it over the crossbar with 2:38 remaining.
“It was frustrating,” said Nabi. “We had all the momentum at the end. It just wouldn’t go in.”
Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com
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