Yarmouth boys continue to flummox Greely

YARMOUTH—The road to another title has been fraught with potholes this fall for Yarmouth’s two-time reigning Class B champion boys’ soccer team, but the Clippers continue to overcome adversity and with the postseason right around the corner, they’re once again rounding into triumphant form.

Saturday afternoon, on Senior Day, Yarmouth welcomed rival Greely and en route to victory, the Clippers demonstrated what makes them so difficult to dethrone.

Their balance, depth and championship heart.

In the game’s 11th minute, junior Ben Flowerdew set up classmate Zach Turkel for the only goal Yarmouth would need.

The Clippers were only up by one heading into the second half, but with the Rangers short-handed, playing without senior standouts Tommy Bennert and Ethan Njitoh, the lead felt safe.

Just to be sure, Yarmouth then put the game away, as junior Justin Dawes scored midway through the half, then Flowerdew finished a feed from sophomore Zacarias Binda to bring the curtain down on a 3-0 victory.

The Clippers improved to 10-1-2 on the season, took a step closer to locking up the second seed for the upcoming playoffs and in the process, dropped Greely to 6-6-1.

“We all believe in ourselves,” said Flowerdew. “We play for each other and we’ll save our best for last.”

Championship chase

Yarmouth started with a 1-1 home tie against Cape Elizabeth, then beat host Freeport after a late rally (2-1), blanked visiting York (5-0), edged visiting North Yarmouth Academy (2-1), won at Greely (2-1), at Poland (6-0) and at home over Fryeburg Academy (4-0) and Wells (7-0), then downed host Gray-New Gloucester (8-0). After falling at Cape Elizabeth (3-0), the Clippers rallied to tie visiting Freeport (1-1), then Wednesday, rallied for a 2-1 victory at York.

In the loss to the Capers, Yarmouth lost senior standout Liam Hickey to a hip injury. Hickey, who excelled on defense, as well as on long throws and set pieces, hopes to be back for the playoffs, but his return might be a longshot.

“We certainly miss Liam,” said longtime Clippers coach Mike Hagerty, who is also Hickey’s uncle. “He’s a big piece of the team. He’s quiet, but he has a nice rapport in the back and the guys listen to him. We miss him on throws and set pieces.”

Greely struggled out of the gate, blanking visiting Poland in the opener (9-0), then falling at Cape Elizabeth (4-0), tying visiting Freeport (3-3) and losing at home to Yarmouth (2-1). The Rangers then blanked host Lake Region (4-0), visiting Gray-New Gloucester (2-0) and host Sacopee Valley (7-0) before falling at Waynflete (3-0). Greely bounced back to down host York (4-2) and visiting Fryeburg Academy (4-1) before losing in the final minute to visiting Cape Elizabeth (2-1), then falling at Freeport Tuesday (2-1).

In the teams’ first meeting Sept. 14, senior Stevie Walsh scored twice and Yarmouth held off a late Rangers’ rally to improve its record to 19-0 (with one tie) versus Greely in the teams’ last 20 meetings (see sidebar, below, for recent results).

Saturday, on a most pleasant 63-degree afternoon, the Rangers sought their first win over Yarmouth since Sept. 9, 2014 (1-0 at Yarmouth), but after their seniors and their families were honored in a pregame ceremony, the Clippers had other ideas, as they were in control almost throughout and earned a key late-season victory.

Yarmouth senior Stevie Walsh boots the ball as Greely senior Tate Nadeau looks on during the Clippers’ 3-0 victory Saturday. Hoffer photos.

Yarmouth’s first good scoring chance resulted in the game’s first goal.

With 29:31 to go in the first half, Flowerdew managed to cross the ball in front where Turkel was able to send it past Greely freshman goalkeeper Landon Dominski for a 1-0 lead.

“I just did what ‘Hags’ has been preaching all season that someone has to make the front post run and that there are two at the back post and all you have to do is execute the run and put the ball in,” said Flowerdew. “You want to pile on the pressure and pressure rewards you with goals. We’ve struggled with conceding first in a lot of our games. It’s a huge relief to score first.”

The Clippers had the majority of possession the rest of the first half, but couldn’t score again.

After Dominski dove to rob junior Jonny Fulton, junior Adam McLaughlin tried a long shot which was saved, then Turkel set up McLaughlin for a great look which Dominski dove to turn aside.

The Rangers didn’t manage a first half shot on frame, but Yarmouth’s lead remained just one at the break.

The Clippers then got some breathing room in the second half.

After Dominski stood tall by robbing junior Matt Gautreau and saving shots from seniors Truman Peters and Walsh, Yarmouth went on top 2-0 with 20:22 remaining, as Dawes, who had just subbed in, beat a defender in the box, then ripped a shot that glanced off another defender and got past Dominski to make it 2-0.

Then, with 15:28 left, it was Flowerdew’s turn, as Binda eluded the defense and passed the ball over where Flowerdew sent it home for a 3-0 advantage.

“It felt pretty good to score,” Flowerdew said. “It feels like the hard work everyone has put in all season has paid off. I just saw a ball from Zacarias. He turned a defender, then put it in a delicious area in the box and I just had to finish it.”

“Ben really had one of his better games with the assist and the goal, “Hagerty said. “His goal was confident and calm, which is hard for a high school kid to do. He had to put pace on it because he wasn’t that close to the goal.”

After Dominski robbed Binda on a breakaway and junior Luis Cardoso sent the rebound just wide, the Rangers finally had their first good chance with 12:20 to go, but after junior Samuel Kim got the ball to senior Tate Nadeau, Nadeau’s rush was broken up by Yarmouth junior back Sam Lowenstein and junior goalkeeper Ian O’Connor.

The Rangers’ first shot came a minute later, as junior Keegan Hale fired a free kick from the top of the box, but O’Connor dove to make the save to preserve the shutout.

The Clippers slammed the door from there and celebrated their 3-0 victory.

With junior Jonny Fulton jumping for joy, Yarmouth celebrates Saturday’s win.

“I think the difference today was our depth and their health,” Hagerty said. “We play a lot of kids and we’re not tired at the end of games. Our bench has done a good job making the most of their minutes. We’ve probably had six different starting lineups this year. Overall, the kids played calm and composed. When we find feet, we’re pretty good. Our guys went in confident knowing one of, if not the most dangerous striker in the league and their heart-and-soul were out today.”

Yarmouth out-shot Greely, 12-1, and took eight corner kicks to the Rangers’ one. O’Connor only had to make one save as the Clippers’ defensive effort was tremendous, even without Hickey.

“Liam’s obviously one of our best players and he has a key role on our long throws and kicks, so when he went out, I kind of got slid in to the position to fill his spot,” said Fulton. “I’m no Liam, but I try my best. Sam and (senior) Wyatt (Anderson) and Ben and (senior) Owen (Redfield) are great people to communicate with and communication is key against a team like (Greely). We found ways to shut them down.”

“Sam and Jonny have done a wonderful job filling in,” Hagerty said. “We’ve got Wyatt Anderson and Owen and Benji, those five have done a really nice job in the back four slots. Sam’s decision-making all year has been great. It gets better and better and better.”

Dominski made nine saves for Greely, which once again had no answers for its nemesis.

“Yarmouth is like worker ants,” said longtime Rangers coach Mike Andreasen. “They never quit and you can’t make a mistake against them for 80 minutes. They wear you down. You can’t make mistakes. They play at a high level.”

Only one left

Greely (currently ranked eighth in the Class B South Heal Points standings) closes at home versus York Tuesday. The Rangers are hopeful of getting Bennert and Njitoh back for the postseason

“We’re hoping to have Ethan get some time Tuesday and Tommy’s looking better,” Andreasen said. “He was on crutches a week ago. We want to play at home (in the preliminary round).”

Yarmouth (second at press time in Class B South) has a riveting showdown to close, at three-time reigning Class C champion Waynflete Tuesday afternoon.

“Even though we have hard competition, I think we’re on the route to have a chance to win it,” Fulton said.

“I can’t wait for that (Waynflete) game,” Hagerty said. “It will be a great game. There will still be a lot of movement in the seeds. We’d like to avoid Freeport and York and Greely if possible.

“We have intentionally played a lot of numbers knowing our depth would be key come our playoff run. Our goal has been to start better, but we’ve always been a wear-teams-down, second half team. We go 18-deep on a regular basis and I feel confident in our bench.”