FREEPORT

Coming off a 5-0 victory at Poland on Saturday, Freeport’s game on Monday against Waynflete came without a practice in between. According to coach Elayna Girardin, her team came out in the first half with no heart, almost taking it like a practice.

After words of encouragement to her athletes at halftime, Girardin’s Falcons responded with a pair of second half goals for a 2-0 Western Maine Conference victory over Waynflete in girls high school soccer at Hunter Road Fields on Monday.

Junior Abbie King kicked the ball after a bounce, past Flyers goalie Ya Stockford at 29:59 for the game’s first-score. After Catriona Gould crossed the ball in front of the net at the 18-yard line, it bounced off a defender and King was able to get her left foot on the ball for the goal.

“I was sitting at the top of the box and was just trying to hit it with the side of my foot, not necessarily trying to take a shot,” said the junior midfielder.

The first half saw few scoring opportunities for either team. Freeport’s first charge came just under 10 minutes into the game. The offensive front of Taylor Rinaldi, Bailey Davis and Gould pressured the Waynflete defense, getting a shot on goal as well as forcing a corner kick minutes later. Stockford came up with a pair of saves over the next few minutes for the Flyers.

On more than one occasion, Freeport goalie Carly Intraversato came out of her net to kick loose balls that were out in front, ending any potential Waynflete scoring attempts.

At the 17-minute mark, Tara Migliaccio stole a Flyer pass and carried the ball inside the 18-yard line, but her shot just went wide of the net, missing out on an opportunity to push one across.

The Falcons had another opportunity to score late in the first half. Sarah Gray fired a direct kick over a wall of defenders, but Stockford was there to make one of her four first-half saves.

“Ya has been an exceptional goalie for us this year, coming into net after being a field player,” said Waynflete coach Jon Shardlow. “We could not be more happier with her transition into the position and solidifying it for us.”

The contest was scoreless at halftime. The Falcons outshot the Flyers 8-2 and held the advantage in corners, 3- 0.

“Waynflete has strong center mids and it took a while for my mids to realize they had to defend,” said Girardin. “That was definitely an issue, but they were able to make the adjustments.”

Freeport came out firing to open the half. Rinaldi had a hard shot on goal five minutes in, but the senior co-captain was turned away by Stockford.

Waynflete turned it back upfield and Ava Farrar carried the ball through the Falcons defense, but was unable to get a shot on goal after Johanna Bogue Marlow broke up the run.

Minutes later, King’s goal gave Freeport the 1-0 lead.

The Flyers didn’t quit, continuing to put pressure on Intraversato and the Falcons defense. Another aggressive move by the freshman goalie, coming out to kick a loose ball at the top of the box in keeping the visitors away from the net.

Waynflete’s best opportunity to score came 11 minutes into the half when Kilee Sherry was able to get a shot on goal, but Intraversato was there for the stop.

Freeport continued to run its offense with aggressiveness, almost playing like the Falcons were behind. Shots that went wide, off a post, or over the net didn’t go in, but the Falcons kept the foot on the gas, firing away.

“The way we came out in the second half is what I expect of my team. They played with more desire in the second half,” said Girardin. “Although, we need to figure out to hit the net a little more.”

Although they didn’t score over the next five minutes, the Falcons were in control. Rinaldi hit the post midway through the half and Becca Cameron missed off a pass from Gould soon after.

Waynflete tried to score on Intraversato with under 19 minutes remaining in the game as Farrar and Sherry raced towards the net, passing the ball, but were unable to get a clean shot on net.

Cameron got an insurance goal for the Falcons with 8:43 left in the contest. She scored when she took a direct kick from 30-yards out that lofted over the defenders and off the fingertips of Stockford for the score.

“I love watching the ball go up and over in the air,” said the senior co-captain.

From there, the Falcons controlled the ball and kept Waynflete away from deep in their own end, winning their fifth game in a row.

“We have played either overtime or one-goal games against them, including them knocking us out of the playoffs, so I told the team that I don’t want to lose,” said Girardin. “We made sure that didn’t happen and I’m pleased with my team.”

“That’s a quality Class B program and a team that has some quality, solid wins behind them. We knew it would be tough to go toe-to-toe with them today. We had a specific game-plan on how we wanted to organize and handle the back and midfield,” said Shardlow. “I thought we executed that exceptionally well in the first half.

“Unfortunately, they were able to break it down a couple of times against us in the second half.”

Intraversato made three saves in net, while Stockford turned away 10 shots in the loss.

Freeport plays Yarmouth at home on Friday, hoping to avenge a 5-0 loss earlier in the season.

“We play Yarmouth on Friday and we’re really excited to play them on grass. Hopefully we can get on them early and carry that momentum,” said Cameron.

Freeport 2,
Waynflete 0

At Hunter Road Field at Freeport
Waynflete 0 0 — 0
Freeport 0 2 — 2
Goals — (F) Abbie King, Becca
Cameron.
Shots — Freeport 26, Waynflete 4.
Saves — (W) Ya Stockford 10, (F)
Carly Intraversato 3.
Corner kicks — Freeport 5, Waynflete
1.
Records — Freeport 6-2; Waynflete
3-3-1.
Up next for Falcons — Friday at
home against Yarmouth, 3:30 p.m.