PORTLAND – Second-seeded Waynflete kept its cool down the stretch to pull out a dramatic 10-9 win against No. 3 Falmouth in an Western Class B semifinal Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Sadie Cole scored the winner off a free-position shot with 26.1 seconds left as the Flyers came from two goals back to reach Wednesday’s regional final against unbeaten Cape Elizabeth, the top seed.

Cole’s goal seemed a fitting end to the third game of the season between the two Western Maine Conference teams. During the regular season, each team had one-goal victories on the road.

“It was a well-played game at both ends, and it took up to the last few seconds of the game to have somebody win, and that’s the type of game you want in the playoffs,” Falmouth Coach Robyn Haley said.

“Neither team gave up, so it made it an exciting game to coach, an exciting game to play in, and an exciting game to watch.”

The score was tied or the lead changed hands 14 times in a game that was moved to the artificial turf of Fitzpatrick because the Fore River Fields were unplayable following Friday night’s heavy rain.

The Yachtsmen (10-3) seemed to take control when they outscored the Flyers 4-1 during an 11-minute span to move into a 9-7 lead with less than eight minutes to play.

“They were up by two late in the game and it would have been easy to give up, but everyone stuck together and everyone contributed,” said Martha Veroneau, who led the Flyers with four goals and two assists. “We were able to come back because every single person on this team was a huge part of the win.”

After Lucy Crane turned a long pass from Veroneau into a goal with 7:11 left, Veroneau tied the score when she weaved her way through traffic to make it 9-9 with less than five minutes left.

Waynflete goalie Katherine Torrey, who had six of her eight saves during the second half, made sure the score stayed tied by making back-to-back saves with less than two minutes left.

“That really got me pumped,” she said. “It’s amazing when you have (two) saves in a row. The energy really flies throughout the field.”

Still, the Flyers (12-1) managed to maintain their poise.

“The plan was just to pull out and not panic, just to settle things down a little bit and not freak out,” Waynflete Coach Cathie Connors said.

“It’s all about staying steady and they did that. They capitalized on what they saw out there and were leaders on the field.”

Cole scored three goals. Waynflete also got goals from Walker Foehl and Isabel Agnew.

Alex Bernier led Falmouth with three goals and two assists. Megan Fortier followed with two goals and three assists. Vanessa Audet, Ashleigh Burton, Angela Mallis and Molly Ryan each added goals.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetitPPH