SCARBOROUGH—Forty-eight hours after a stunning setback, Scarborough’s girls’ soccer team reminded everyone why they’re the reigning champions when they hosted the undefeated Windham Eagles in a highly-anticipated late-season showdown at the Kippy Mitchell Sports Complex.

Make that the no longer unbeaten Windham Eagles.

The Red Storm, who lost at Falmouth Wednesday on a goal with less than a second left on the clock, came out sizzling, but it was the Eagles striking first, as junior Marley Jarvais buried a shot in the 13th minute.

But Scarborough would close the first half strong, as promising freshman Josie Duncan buried a free kick with 12 minutes left to tie it, then with 2:27 to go, junior Paige Garlock benefited from a fortuitous bounce to score to put the Red Storm in front.

Scarborough’s defense locked down from there and the end result was a 2-1 victory.

The Red Storm improved to 7-1-2 on the season, continued its recent dominance over Windham and in the process, dropped the Eagles to 8-1-1.

“This shows a lot about these kids,” said longtime Scarborough coach Mike Farley. “They have a fight and desire. These are the kinds of games we want to play in and we rose to the challenge tonight.”

Champs vs. heir apparent

Scarborough has been the gold standard the past two years and while the Red Storm have proved a little more mortal this fall, they are still very much in the title hunt.

Scarborough settled for a 1-1 home draw versus Gorham to open the year, then defeated host Marshwood (3-0), South Portland (2-1) and Deering (5-0) and blanked visiting Portland (7-0) and Sanford (1-0) before settling for a 1-1 tie at Cheverus. After shutting down visiting Noble (4-0), the Red Storm were stunned at Falmouth Tuesday, when the Navigators prevailed, 2-1, on a goal which came literally in the final second.

“It was rough to lose like that,” Duncan said.

Windham, meanwhile, has lived up to its high expectations so far this season.

The Eagles opened with a 2-2 tie at Thornton Academy, then handled visiting Noble (7-1), blanked host Falmouth (2-0) and visiting South Portland (3-0) edged Gorham (4-3) and beat Biddeford (6-0), Deering (3-1) and Bonny Eagle (7-0) before downing visiting Cheverus with an impressive showing Monday night, 3-1.

Last year, Scarborough won with surprise ease at Windham, 3-0.

Thursday, on a chilly 49 degree evening, the Eagles looked to beat their rival/nemesis for the first time since Oct. 20, 2015 (1-0 in Scarborough), but instead, the Red Storm rose off the deck, overcame adversity and made it nine straight in the series.

Windham junior Marley Jarvais runs down a ball on the sideline as Scarborough sophomore Maggie Booth gives chase during the Red Storm’s 2-1 victory Thursday. Hoffer photos.

Scarborough came out sizzling, as senior Delia Fravert set up sophomore Maggie Booth for a shot on the run in the the third minute, but Eagles sophomore goalkeeper Libby Hartwell made the save.

In the sixth minute, Duncan ripped a blast from just inside midfield that Hartwell had to leap and tip over the bar, setting up a corner kick.

In the eighth minute, Fravert served in a corner kick and senior Grace Carlista got her head on it, but Hartwell made a point blank save.

In the 10th minute, Fravert set up Booth for a promising shot, but Hartwell made a sprawling save.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Windham struck first.

With 27:05 to go in the first half, sophomore Isabella Vassoler passed to Jarvais, who got the ball on her left foot and found enough room to launch a low shot that Red Storm senior goalkeeper Sophia Rinaldi dove for, but couldn’t reach, as the ball found the net inside the right post.

Just like that, it was gut-check time for Scarborough and it responded like the champion it is and hopes to be again.

First, Fravert was robbed by Hartwell after taking a long pass from Duncan, then Fravert missed just wide.

Rinaldi then kept the deficit at one by making a jawdropping save on a shot from Windham senior Emily Talbot after she blocked a clear from a defender and the ball sailed directly back at the keeper, then she saved a shot from sophomore Mackenzie Delweski as well.

Then, after Booth missed just wide, the Red Storm drew even with 12:05 remaining in the half, off a set piece.

Duncan lined up a free kick from just over 20 yards out and she banged it over Hartwell and into the net.

“I knew there was no way I could miss it,” Duncan said. “I knew it had to go in and it did and I’ve never been happier. I knew it had to go over (the goalie’s) head anywhere and it went where I wanted it to go.

“I was definitely intimidated at first coming to a state champion. I was nervous, but everyone was so welcoming. I just love being on a winning team.”

“(Josie’s) a huge addition to our team,” Garlock said. “We didn’t realize how good she was until we saw her. She’s a huge asset for us. Even though they scored, we knew with the possession we’d had, we’d get one, it was just a question of when.”

“We haven’t had (Josie) take a bunch of free kicks,” Farley added. “That came at a good time. We were struggling to score and she buried it. I’ve never had a freshman in the back. Clearing balls is something that all girls’ soccer players struggle with, but her ability to play a ball 50 or 60 yards is allowing us to play a little more direct and get more players forward. It opens up a lot of things for us.

“It’s one of those games that could have been easy to hang our heads. We got beat with a second on the clock and now we were doing well and getting chances and then bang, they have a shot and get a goal, so I’m proud of the girls for stepping up and bearing down.”

After a Fravert shot was saved by Hartwell, Talbot missed wide for the Eagles, then a long free kick from senior Kyla Harvie was saved by Rinaldi.

After Booth was denied in front, Scarborough went in front to stay with 2:27 on the clock.

The goal came in traffic, off a ricochet as the ball came right to Garlock, who fired it past Hartwell, low into the left corner for a 2-1 lead.

“Coming into this game, I knew my role was to stay up high as best I could and get rebounds,” Garlock said. “The ball bounced off a bunch of people and then I looked up and I saw the ball bounce in the 18 and I knew I had to attack it as hard as I could. Once I got to the ball, it was one-on-one with the keeper and I knew I had to finish it. I spotted the bottom left. She left that whole side open. I knew all I had to do was send it in.”

“That came from pressure,” said Farley. “We want to pressure that area of the field. Paige did a great job staying active in that area, so when the ball got knocked down, she was right there to pounce on it.”

Windham hoped to counter in the second half, but the Red Storm’s defense protected the lead.

Scarborough sophomore Grace Carlista keeps the ball away from Windham junior Marley Jarvais.

The Eagles’ best chance came three minutes into the half, as Jarvais got the ball right in front to junior Neve Ledbetter, but Ledbetter sailed her shot high.

After Rinaldi saved a long free kick from Windham senior Stella Jarvais, the Red Storm nearly tackled on another goal midway through the half, as Garlock’s serve off a corner kick hit the far post. The rebound sat free, but was eventually cleared.

After senior Tayla Pelletier and Marley Jarvais each missed wide, Talbot took a shot on the run, but Rinaldi made the save.

With 3:45 to go, off a corner kick, Stella Jarvais headed the ball wide.

Two minutes later, Stella Jarvais had one final look, but it went wide and Scarborough was able to run out the clock and celebrate its 2-1 victory.

Scarborough players rush to congratulate senior goalkeeper Sophia Rinaldi at the final horn.

“We knew we had to win and come out way stronger after the Falmouth game,” said Duncan. “(Windham’s) speed and strength are tough. They’re very good, but we worked together. I think this was a huge game for us. We had a setback and now we’re back. We all play off each other. We get happier and more excited when everybody is in it.”

“It was huge coming back to win a game like this,” Garlock said. “I think everyone underestimated us after losing so many seniors, so that Falmouth loss sealed the deal for us for a lot of people and we knew we had to come out hard. Last year, we lost to TA, and that fueled us for the next big game. Coming into this, we knew we had to do the same thing. We knew we couldn’t lose this one. We kept our heads up the whole time and I’m proud of us for doing that.”

“I told them (after the Falmouth loss) that this is the time you want a loss to happen,” Farley added. “We probably needed a wakeup call because the team that played today is not the team I’ve seen so far this year. The chances we created were the best we’ve created in a long time. (Windham’s) always good. It’s really hard to defend that group. Their midfielders are all solid. I hope we’ll see them again and I expect we’ll both be there at the end.”

Scarborough finished with a 12-7 advantage in shots on frame, a 4-1 edge in corner kicks and got 11 saves from Rinaldi.

Windham got five saves from Hartwell, but tasted defeat for the first time.

“We didn’t play like we did the other night (against Cheverus),” lamented longtime Eagles coach Deb LeBel. “We were off tonight. That happens. We knew Scarborough’s a great team and we knew they’d be fired up coming off that loss and they were. You can’t foul them. They have some great free kicks. We’ve got to clean that up and we have to play faster. We didn’t get many chances in the second half. When we connect we score, but tonight, we didn’t connect.”

Big things to come

Windham (which is still ranked first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) returns home to meet Sanford Saturday and Portland Monday. The Eagles also have games remaining at Marshwood and at home against Thornton Academy.

“I’m okay with a loss,” LeBel said. “It gets it out of the way. I’d love to play (Scarborough) again. It’s not like some other years. This year, bring it on.”

Scarborough (now second in Class A South) is back in action Monday at Biddeford. After hosting Thornton Academy Tuesday, the Red Storm welcome Bonny Eagle Thursday of next week, then close at Gorham Oct. 22.

“We took a big step backwards (at Falmouth) to get homefield for the playoffs, but this was a huge step forward and we have to carry this forward,” Farley said. “It’s about carrying the way we played against Windham and doing that consistently. If we do, we’ll be there in the end.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.