Falmouth girls edge Deering to keep good times rolling

PORTLAND—Throughout the month of September, seemingly every bounce went the way of Falmouth’s girls’ soccer team.

And so far, October is no different.

Monday evening at Memorial Field, the surging Navigators visited a Deering squad that is far more competitive than its record would suggest and while nothing came easily, Falmouth, once again, found a way to pull out a victory.

The Navigators struck first in the 19th minute, when sophomore Ella Morse scored, but the Rams drew even in the 24th minute, when junior standout Elsa Freeman buried a penalty kick.

Deering had its chances to go on top in the second half, but couldn’t finish and with 7:56 left in regulation, off a corner kick, the ball got batted around and sophomore Afton Mick was in the right place at the right time to finish and Falmouth went on to a 2-1 victory.

The Navigators have now won eight games in a row, improved to 8-1 and in the process, dropped the hard-luck Rams to 2-6-1.

“We’re just finding ways to win games right now,” said Falmouth’s second-year coach Ben Johnson. “Whether it’s working hard, or getting good goals. I don’t think it was very pretty today, but it worked out.”

Ahead of schedule

Falmouth came into the season hopeful of contending, but the Navigators weren’t on anyone’s short list of favorites.

Falmouth started the year at reigning champion Scarborough and lost, 4-1, but a late goal in that one provided optimism and the Navigators haven’t stumbled since. Falmouth’s streak began with a 6-1 home victory over Biddeford and continued with a 3-1 home win over Kennebunk. The Navigators announced they were for real with a 3-1 home win over perennial powerhouse Windham, then handled visiting Westbrook (7-1), blanked host Bonny Eagle (5-0), got past host Marshwood (2-1) and defeated visiting Noble in their last outing, 4-1.

Deering, meanwhile, has been competitive throughout but hasn’t been able to get as many results as it would like.

The Rams lost at Bonny Eagle (3-1) and at home to Gorham (4-0) to start the year, then enjoyed a 3-0 victory at Massabesic and tied visiting Noble (2-2). After falling at home to Sanford (2-0), Deering edged visiting Portland (1-0), then lost at home to Windham (2-0) and at Cheverus (2-1).

Last year, Falmouth came to Deering and prevailed, 4-1.

Monday, on a very pleasant early October evening (72 degrees at kickoff, dropping into the 60s), the Rams sought their first-ever victory over the Navigators, but Falmouth did just enough to prevail again.

Deering junior Elsa Freeman races down the field as Falmouth sophomore Afton Mick gives chase. Mick’s late goal gave the Navigators a 2-1 victory. Hoffer photos.

The Navigators had the majority of chances early, but Deering senior goalkeeper Sophie Hill snared a cross from sophomore Margo Hesson, junior Mackenzie VerLee missed high, then had a shot saved by Hill.

With 30:20 left in the first half, VerLee lined up a free kick from about 40 yards out and struck it perfectly. It sailed over Hill’s head, but just a little too high, as it banged off the crossbar.

After senior Josie D’Andrea missed wide and Hesson sent freshman Hadley Perry’s cross high, the Rams looked for the game’s first goal, but off a pass from senior Shay Rosenthal, senior Grace Marino missed wide.

With 21:33 remaining in the first half, Falmouth broke through, as Mick got the ball to Morse, whose shot was right at Hill, but it handcuffed the keeper and crossed the line for a 1-0 lead.

Undaunted, the Rams battled back, as with 16:25 on the clock, junior Isa Garcia was brought down in the box, a penalty kick was awarded and Freeman did the honors, beating Navigators sophomore keeper Abigail Pausman low and to the goalie’s left to tie the score.

Deering junior Elsa Freeman sends a penalty kick past Falmouth sophomore goalkeeper Abigail Pausman to even the game.

Freeman then threatened to put the hosts on top, but she missed wide after a nice rush.

Late in the half, senior Gracyn Mick missed just wide and Hill saved a long shot from junior Gwenyth Long and at the other end, senior Meseret Day couldn’t quite handle a cross from Freeman, keeping the score 1-1 at the break.

Falmouth had a 4-1 edge in shots on frame in the first half, but Hill’s three saves kept the game even.

There wouldn’t be much separation in the second half either.

Falmouth sophomore Afton Mick and Deering junior Anika Gin chase after a loose ball.

Early on, the Rams had some great looks to go on top, but Morse broke up a rush from Freeman, Pausman beat junior Anka Gin to a serve from junior Mya Landry and Pausman dropped to her knees to save a free kick from Freeman.

With 30:12 remaining, Pausman had to make a diving save to rob Gin and seconds later, on a Freeman rebound shot, she went sprawling to collect the ball and keep the game deadlocked.

The Navigators then returned to the attack, but Hesson missed wide, senior Mallory Kerr sent VerLee’s corner kick high, Kerr had a free kick cleared and D’Andrea missed just wide.

With just over eight minutes remaining, Deering couldn’t clear the ball and that led to a corner kick for Falmouth.

With 7:56 left, after VerLee sent the ball in and Kerr got her head on it, the ball was batted around, was momentarily kept out of the goal by a Rams’ defender, then was sent home by Afton Mick for a 2-1 lead.

“It was crazy in the middle,” Mick said. “I could only see the ground, the ball came right on my foot and I just had to tap it in. It felt good.”

“I’m coached to take back post because Mackenzie’s balls tend to go there,” Kerr said. “I crashed, the ball came toward me, I headed it back to the middle and (Afton) was right on the other end of it.”

“It started with a good service, then Mallory headed it back across, which is a high soccer IQ play, then we won the scrum and finished it,” Johnson added.

“I can talk to the girls until I’m blue in the face about putting their bodies on the line, not letting the ball bounce in the 6-yard box and getting balls out, but they have to do it on the field,” lamented Deering coach Paul Cameron.

Down the stretch, Deering pushed hard to equalize, but Kerr headed away a serve from Landry and a long shot from sophomore Sophia Nieves was easily saved by Pausman.

The Navigators ran out the clock from there and prevailed, 2-1.

Falmouth rushes the field to celebrate with goalkeeper Abigail Pausman at the final horn.

“Our team chemistry is amazing this year,” Kerr said. “We’ve clicked so well. It feels like a big family. We’re all supportive of each other. Credit to all the girls. We pulled through at the end. Deering’s tenacious. Elsa knows what she’s doing. Their midfielders played really well. I love playing against the best players. Those are my favorite games of the season.”

“We had a long week last week and we had a little time off, so I think we were a little rusty,” Johnson said. “Deering plays a really hard game and defends really well. They’re well coached. They’re tough to beat. The girls have put in a lot of work and we have great leadership with upperclassmen and some strong younger players.”

The Navigators had a 7-5 advantage in shots, got four saves from Pausman and took five corner kicks to the Rams’ one.

Deering to five saves from Hill, but once again, fell agonizingly short of a result.

“The girls’ effort tonight was fantastic,” said Cameron. “They worked their tails off. We just had a couple lapses in concentration. It’s getting frustrating. We’re pretty close. I think if you ask the Falmouth coach, he’d say they were a little lucky to get out of here with a win.”

Two weeks left

Deering (currently 10th in Class A South, where 12 teams qualify for the playoffs) has some work to do down the stretch and the Rams have several opportunities to win games that could earn them valuable Heal Points. After going to resurgent South Portland Wednesday, Deering welcomes Scarborough Friday. The Rams then close at Westbrook, Biddeford and Thornton Academy.

“We have to beat the teams that we’re supposed to beat and take care of that first, then we have to surprise someone,” Cameron said. “We have to win some games and pick up some Heal Points.”

Falmouth (now fourth in Class A South) is home versus Sanford Wednesday. The Navigators will be seeking their first nine-game win streak since 2008, when they captured 12 in a row. Falmouth then visits Thornton Academy Friday and after games at Massabesic and Gorham, closes at home versus Scarborough in a game that has been rescheduled for Oct. 16.

“I think we’re still underestimated and we take that to heart,” Kerr said. “We’ll just keep going.”

“We just need to keep our energy up,” said Mick. “Our work ethic is incredible. I’m excited to see where it takes us.”

“We have some big teams left to play,” Johnson added. “We have three games in five days, then Gorham and Scarborough again. We still have a lot of work to do. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get at least one home playoff game.”