SCARBOROUGH – Six minutes into the second half with the outcome very much in doubt, Scarborough keeper Pat Stanton made a sprawling save to preserve the Red Storm’s 1-0 lead.
Moments later, Dan Ornstein scored to give Scarborough a 2-0 lead. That’s the way it ended, as No. 1 Scarborough beat No. 4 Gorham in a Western Class A boys’ soccer semifinal Saturday.
Scarborough (13-1-2) plays No. 2 Windham for the regional title Wednesday at Scarborough, at a time to be announced.
Windham (14-2) beat No. 6 Cheverus 2-1 in the other semifinal.
Stanton made a least two more great saves in the second half, one on a penalty kick.
“We had great chances on net, but we couldn’t get one by their goalie,” said Gorham Coach Tim King. “I thought we carried the play in the second half.”
Ornstein’s goal was a backbreaker for the Rams (12-4). They were putting heavy pressure on Scarborough with a great chance to tie and the next moment, they were in a 2-0 hole.
Gorham keeper Carter Bowers made the initial save on Ornstein’s shot, but the Scarborough junior stayed with the play, got the rebound and scored.
“That changed the whole momentum of the game,” said Scarborough Coach Mark Diaz.
“I thought Pat’s save just before Dan’s goal was even better than his save on the penalty kick. Gorham has some great players.”
Stanton made a big save on a shot by Kyle Curley. Curley fired a shot on goal from 25 yards out. When Stanton knocked it away, Curley jumped in disbelief that his shot didn’t go in.
The Rams continued to pressure the Scarborough goal. Later in the half, Gorham was awarded a penalty kick because of a hand ball in the area.
Kevin Lubelczyk took the shot and Stanton guessed right.
“I look at the shooter’s eyes and body language,” said Stanton on his strategy for stopping penalty kicks. “He told me he was going to my left.”
Stanton, a sophomore, made one more outstanding save, this one on Chandler Reagan.
The Red Storm led 1-0 after the first half as Andrew Jones scored off a header from Trevor Sparda. The play began with a corner kick.
“I thought we played a great game. It was a real team effort,” said Stanton, who played on the junior varsity team last year.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
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