PORTLAND—The recent resurgence of the Falmouth girls’ soccer team has been simple.

The Navigators are scoring more goals.

And with more goals have come more victories.

Just in time for the most important part of the season.

Facing host Portland Monday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Stadium, Falmouth shot to an early lead on a strike from junior Josie D’Andrea in the 13th minute and senior captain Elise Gearan added a goal three minutes later.

While the Bulldogs had their chances, they couldn’t put the ball in the net and a second Gearan goal, with 31 minutes remaining, was too much to overcome and the Navigators went on to an impressive 3-0 victory.

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Falmouth won its fourth consecutive game, improved to 8-4 and in the process, dropped Portland to 6-6.

“That fast start was important,” said Gearan. “We started slowly earlier in the season, so getting a quick goal today was helpful.”

Fast start in the rain

Falmouth and Portland both seem to be saving their best soccer for last this fall.

The Navigators started out by edging visiting Bonny Eagle (1-0) and downing host Noble (6-2). After a 3-2 home loss to Sanford, Falmouth beat visiting Kennebunk (3-0) and host Massabesic (11-0), then fell at Gorham (4-1) and at home to Thornton Academy (2-0) and Scarborough (2-0). The Navigators then turned things around with a 2-0 victory at Cheverus and last week defeated visiting Biddeford (6-0) and host Deering (4-1).

Portland started the season with losses to visiting Scarborough (8-1), host Marshwood (6-1) and visiting Noble (4-3) and after a 9-0 victory at Biddeford fell at home to reigning state champion Windham (6-2), but the Bulldogs rattled off five consecutive victories: 8-2 at Westbrook, 12-0 at home over Massabesic, 2-1 at South Portland, 4-0 at home over Bonny Eagle and 3-0 at Kennebunk before last Thursday’s 3-0 home loss to undefeated Gorham.

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Last fall, host Falmouth eked out a 1-0 win over Portland.

Monday, on a chilly (48 degrees at kickoff) and drizzly day, the Navigators came out strong and were rewarded.

Falmouth junior Eve Gallagher keeps the ball away from Portland senior Kate Martell early in the Navigators’ 3-0 win Monday. Hoffer photos.

Portland put the first shot on frame, as junior Phoebe Knoll did the honors in the seventh minute, but Falmouth freshman goalkeeper Abigail Pausman made the stop.

The Navigators then went on top for good.

After senior captain Abbie Ford took a pass from Gearan and had a shot saved by Bulldogs’ junior goalie Lucy Tidd, Falmouth kept possession and sophomore Gwenyth Long passed to D’Andrea, who let a shot rip from the top of the box and she launched it over the outstretched hand of Tidd, just inside the far post, to make it 1-0.

“That was a great finish, a one-timer at the top of the box,” said Navigators’ first-year coach Ben Johnson. “We also had an early goal in our last game and those early goals set the tempo.”

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After Pausman twiced denied Portland sophomore Anneliese Collin, Gearan doubled the lead with 24:50 to go before halftime, pouncing on a failed clear and sending the ball home to make it 2-0.

“I just had a lot of space in front of the goal, so I figured why not take a shot,” Gearan said. “We’ve been focusing a lot more on attacking and we also changed our shape to a more attacking shape. We have two forwards now, which really helps.”

Pausman preserved the lead, twice denying Collin, and after Gearan was robbed by a diving Tidd in the waning seconds of the first half, Falmouth went to the break up two.

The Navigators then added an all-important third tally early in the second half.

Portland senior Elizabeth Littell races up the field with Falmouth freshman Reese Harder defending.

After Portland junior back Kyla Derrig made a defensive save on a header from junior Mallory Kerr off a corner kick from senior Audrey Murray in the first minute of the half, Bulldogs senior standout Eliza Stein was just high on a shot and Collin missed just wide.

Then, with 31:22 to go, a long ball was deflected ahead to Gearan, who had a breakaway and went on to beat Tidd on a low shot to the goalie’s left for a commanding 3-0 advantage.

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“Abbie or Gwen played a nice through ball and I just got on the end of it,” said Gearan.

“Elise has been in great form,” Johnson said. “She’s been amazing and that’s what we need from her.”

To its credit, Portland never quit and had some chances to get on the board, but Pausman saved shots from Littell, Collin, Stein and senior Kendall Sniper to close out the 3-0 victory.

“We’ve been able to score some goals and that’s a huge help,” said Johnson. “The girls have worked hard in practice and that’s paid off. ”

Falmouth finished with a 14-8 shots advantage, got eight saves from Pausman and took five corner kicks to the Buldogs’ two.

Portland got nine saves from Tidd, a defensive stop from Deerig and one save from freshman Linda Nicholson, who replaced Tidd late in regulation.

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“We did not lack for chances,” said Bulldogs’ first-year coach Matt Bernstein. “I’m super-proud. I thought we moved the ball really well, but sometimes, it just doesn’t go in. If we keep playing like that, the next time the ball will hit the back of the net.”

One more week

Falmouth and Portland each have two games remaining and there are still plenty of critical Heal Points at stake.

The Bulldogs (currently ranked 10th in Class A South) are back in action Friday at Cheverus, then close at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

“I told the girls before the game that where we are as a team now is night and day from where we were at the start of the season and that’s all I can ask for,” Bernstein said. “The work the girls has done is huge. Our leadership from our seniors and captains has been immense. Sometimes when you have a difficult start to a season, a season can turn, but I’m lucky to have this group that supports each other and is always working together. My favorite thing has been watching our chemistry build. We’ll train well for Friday and hopefully win that one, then we’ll look to next week. It’s the business end of the season and we want to keep growing day by day and if we do, we’ll be in every match.”

The Navigators (sixth in the region) are at Marshwood Saturday, then finish at home versus Windham Tuesday of next week.

“We need to keep our intensity going forward,” Gearan said. “I think we have momentum and it’s come at the perfect time.”

“We still have two hard games and we’ll see what we can do,” Johnson said. “Marshwood and Windham have good records. We need the Heal Points and hope to be our best for playoffs. We still have a lot to get better at and if we do, we’ll be tough to beat.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

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