GORHAM — Gorham High features steady, experienced girls’ soccer players, such as backs Cady Houghton and Jenny Darasz, and forwards Lizzie Sullivan and Emily Bragg.
But there is also youth among the Rams. And, oh my, can they play.
Freshmen Emma Forgues, Brittany Desjardins and Hallie Shiers scored, along with Sullivan, to lead Gorham to a 4-0 win over Marshwood in the Class A South championship game Wednesday night at Gorham High.
Gorham (14-3), the South’s No. 3 seed, moves on to the state title game at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium against Bangor High (14-1-2). Bangor, the North’s No. 2 seed, beat previously-unbeaten Camden Hills 3-2 Wednesday.
No. 5 Marshwood finished at 13-4, including two losses to the Rams.
This will be the Rams’ first trip to the state championship game since their five straight appearances from 2004 to 2008, winning four titles.
“This year, everything has just come together,” said Houghton, a senior co-captain who put in another dominating performance, clearing out balls and directing a stifling defense.
“She’s a great back,” Marshwood Coach Chelsea Watson said. “You can hear her talking the whole game. She’s obviously the leader of that group.”
While Houghton was leading the defense, Gorham’s ninth-graders were making it go on the other end.
“Our freshmen group came in and took us by surprise,” Houghton said.
Forgues was in control at the start – creating chances with steals and nifty passes.
“She plays like a seasoned veteran,” Gorham Coach Jeanne Zarrilli said.
Early in the game, Gorham threatened with a Forgues pass to Bragg, and the Rams ended up with a corner kick. Narissa Libby sent in a dangerous ball. Gorham got off one shot, that goalkeeper Emily Robida knocked away.
But the ball went right to Sullivan, who had the composure not to shoot right away.
“I was looking for that back post runner, and Emma is always there,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan passed over to Forgues, who buried it at 5:10 of the first half.
“We expected that (pressure), but unfortunately we didn’t handle it as well as we hoped,” Watson said. “I mean, that’s a great team.”
The Hawks did keep it 1-0 until halftime. Robida played well, with back Hailey Tarr clearing out balls, and midfielder Reagan Nichols creating some chances.
Gorham broke away early in the second half. Desjardins shot just past Robida at 5:24.
Shiers took a pass from Bragg and raced just ahead of two defenders, firing a shot from just inside the box for a goal at 7:18.
Sullivan made it 4-0 as Forgues led her with a pass and she scored point-blank at 24:40.
“We just have a great freshmen group,” Sullivan said. “We can rely on them a lot.”
Zarrilli, in her 12th year at Gorham, watched this mix of old and young come together.
“We didn’t have a smooth start,” she said. “We had to come back and regroup. It took a little while to work it out. Give credit to the girls.”
The Gorham-Bangor game will be a rematch of the 2005 championship, won by Gorham 1-0.
This will be Bangor’s fifth state title appearance in the past six years.
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