GORHAM — Gorham girls’ soccer coach Jeanne Zarrilli doesn’t hesitate to mention what has been the key of her team’s undefeated season.

“Overall the success of our season has been that we play as a team,” Zarrilli said. “We have people who can play at different positions, so we’re a little versatile, and when that happens we can make adjustments.”

Adjustments were needed in a 2-1 win over an aggressive Windham team at Gorham High School on Monday night to push the Rams to 7-0.

It could’ve easily gone the other way, though.

After Gorham took a 2-0 lead less than three minutes into the second half on a goal by junior Kali St. Germain, Windham sophomore Emily Gilman fired a shot that looked to be wide before it caught the foot of a Gorham player and slipped past senior goalie Sarah Perkins to cut the Rams’ lead to one.

A little over a minute later Windham (5-2) had a clear chance to tie the score when the ball slipped past Perkins near the 18, but with the help of pressure from hustling Gorham defenders Windham’s shot just missed to the right.

“The key for us in that situation was staying composed and keeping our heads,” Gorham senior tri-captain Kiersten Turner said.

“After they scored that first goal and almost another, we just needed to stay focused.”

More times than not composure is a result of experience and confidence, and the Rams have plenty of both.

Gorham has 12 seniors and 11 juniors, and most have been playing together since grade school.

But that hasn’t stopped younger players from stepping up in times of need.

“I’ve been playing with the senior group since I was little, so we’re all great friends and have great team chemistry,” Turner said.

“Everybody has been key for us this year, though, including the underclassmen. We really don’t have a weak player.”

Zarrilli agreed they’re more of a “senior-strong” team, but noted that the play of her juniors, sophomores and the team’s lone freshman Kate Hopkins — who gave the Rams a 1-0 lead with 10:55 remaining in the first half — have made a big difference.

“We have a lot of really good kids coming up, and kids like that are willing to do what’s best for the team,” she said. “That’s what’s really nice about this team.

“People just do what they have to do. So in that sense, we are very balanced on the field.”

Hopkins scored after gathering a shot from Turner that ricocheted off the left post and kicked it past Windham goalie Kate Kneeland.

Gorham wasted no time coming out in the second half to increase its lead. After Turner threw the ball in, her fellow captain, senior Audrey Adkison, headed it to St. Germain, who knocked it past Kneeland.

Kneeland made 12 saves on 17 shots, and Perkins stopped 9 of 12 attempts on goal.

 

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