WINDHAM—The accomplished senior class of Cheverus’ girls’ soccer team hoped to enjoy one more week together.

But Saturday morning, in a matter of 33 seconds, the Windham Eagles dashed that dream.

With 31:48 to go in the first half, the Eagles earned a penalty kick and senior Emily Talbot buried it.

Then, with 31:15 on the clock, Talbot crossed the ball to the far post where sophomore Mackenzie Delewski fired it home and the Stags were seriously on the ropes.

Cheverus settled in and didn’t allow another goal in the first half, but it couldn’t get on the board and with 11:03 to play, Talbot again converted a penalty kick, closing out a 3-0 victory.

Windham improved to 14-1-1, advanced to take on second-ranked, two-time reigning state champion Scarborough (13-1-2) in the Class A South Final Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., at Massabesic High School in Waterboro, and in the process, ended Cheverus’ strong season at 11-3-2.

“We played better than we did the first time against them,” said Stags coach Craig Roberts. “Getting down two early, we could have easily collapsed, but we showed resilience and for that, I’m so proud of the girls.”

No answers

On Oct. 8, Cheverus came to Windham and left with its first loss, 3-1.

The Stags lost just one other game, a 2-1 home decision to Gorham, and tied Falmouth and Scarborough, but won its other 10 contests.

Tuesday, in a memorable Class A South quarterfinal, Cheverus survived No. 5 Falmouth, 2-1, on senior captain Sophia Monfa’s free kick goal with just 44 seconds remaining.

Windham was the preseason favorite and hasn’t disappointed, losing only at Scarborough (2-1) and settling for a draw against Thornton Academy.

The Eagles dominated No. 8 Kennebunk in their quarterfinal Tuesday, rolling to an 8-0 victory.

Cheverus and Windham split four prior playoff encounters, with the Eagles taking the most recent, 3-1, in the 2016 quarterfinals.

Saturday, on a breezy and chilly late morning/early afternoon (46 degrees at kickoff), the Stags hoped to turn the tables, but Windham came out on fire and quickly seized control of the match.

Windham senior Kyla Harvie shields the ball from Cheverus senior Madelyn Tierney during the Eagles’ 3-0 victory in Saturday’s Class A South semifinal.  Photo courtesy Kneka Smith.

After sophomore Olivia Vigue broke up a rush by Talbot in the fifth minute, the Eagles broke through in the ninth.

The penalty kick was awarded after Windham senior Kyla Harvie was fouled in the box.

Talbot then did the honors, beating Cheverus senior goalkeeper Evelyn Rush to the goalie’s left, into the right corner, for a 1-0 lead.

Windham senior Emily Talbot sends a penalty kick past diving Cheverus senior goalkeeper Evelyn Rush for the game’s first goal. Hoffer photo.

“I was definitely nervous, but it’s about composure,” said Talbot. “You can’t let the nerves get to you. PKs are a mental game. It’s a simple shot. I was really just focusing on placing the ball in the corner of the net. It felt good. That gave us motivation.”

“We wanted to come out, set the tone, play hard and get on the board first,” said longtime Eagles coach Deb LeBel.

In the blink of an eye, Windham doubled its lead.

The Eagles got possession again, Talbot raced down the right side, then she delivered a perfect cross to Delewski, who ran on to the ball near the far post and one-timed it into the net for a 2-0 advantage.

“We’re the type of team that needs one to get us going, then we got another one right after,” Talbot said. “You can’t get too comfortable in playoffs. A lead is great, but they could come back any second.”

Cheverus could have rolled over, but more than held its own the rest of the first half, earning three corner kicks.

The Stags’ best first half chance came when Monfa missed just high from about 20-yards out.

Late in the half, Talbot missed just wide, then Harvie booted away a cross from Cheverus senior captain Annie Vigue.

Windham had a 4-0 edge in first half shots on frame.

The Eagles then put it away in the second half.

Four minutes in, the Stags’ first shot on frame came off the foot of senior captain Jill Foley, but Windham sophomore keeper Libby Hartwell made the save.

At the 10 minute mark, Rush made her best save, diving to rob Talbot.

Rush then punched out bids from senior Tayla Pelletier and Delewski.

With 23:05 to go, Cheverus junior Alaina Holmes nearly broke free, but junior back Brianna Duarte broke up the opportunity at the last moment.

With 14:26 left, Monfa raced after a ball that had deflected off a defender, but Hartwell got there first.

Then, with 11:03 left, Talbot put it away.

After another Stags’ foul in the box, Talbot produced a nearly identical penalty kick, again beating Rush to her left, for a commanding 3-0 advantage.

Windham senior Emily Talbot prepares to bury her second half penalty kick to make it 3-0. Photo couresy Kneka Smith.

“That third goal put it away for us,” said Talbot. “It’s really muscle memory. I went with my gut and went to the same side.”

“Emily’s determined,” said LeBel. “That’s one thing I can say about her. She was terrific today.”

“We had talked about defensive discipline and team defense, but it wasn’t strong through the buildup or at the end,” Roberts lamented. “Anytime a team gets two penalty kicks against you, there were breakdowns before they got into the penalty area.. They earned them.”

Late in regulation, Hartwell came way out to rob Holmes, Holmes had a shot saved by Hartwell and a long shot from Monfa was saved by Hartwell.

At 12:38 p.m., the horn sounded and Windham’s 3-0 victory was official.

“Playoffs is such a fun time,” Talbot said. “We were really excited coming into this game. Semis the past few years is where we got knocked out, so we were really determined to get past this round and we were really pumped up today. We don’t come into a playoff game thinking we can win it. Anything can happen when it’s one-and-done.”

“Cheverus is a really talented team,” LeBel said. “They got better as the season went on. I knew it would be a tight game, but these seniors are fired up. They’re going as hard as they can.”

The Eagles had a commanding edge in shots on frame (11-4) and got four saves from Hartwell.

The next step will be a doozy for Windham.

Scarborough was the only team to beat the Eagles this season, prevailing at home , 2-1, Oct. 10.

The teams have an extensive postseason history, having played six times, but five of those encounters came between 2013-18. The most recent was won by the Red Storm, 1-0, in overtime, in the 2018 semifinals, which gave them a 4-2 all-time lead in the playoff series.

Windham hasn’t beaten Scarborough since the evening of Oct. 20, 2015 and hopes to snap a nine-game skid in the series at the most optimal time in what could be a classic Tuesday night.

“I’m really excited,” Talbot said. “We’ll work hard in practice. There are things we can still improve on and I think we have a good chance.”

“Scarborough is playing really well,” said LeBel. “We just need to come out confident and play really hard. It’s going to be a great matchup.”

A class to remember

Cheverus got eight saves from Rush and had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks, but couldn’t score as its season ended shy of its goal.

“We played to spots we wanted to play to,” said Roberts. “We had four corners, but we put only one in play. Corners are usually a strength of ours. Going into the wind in the second half hurt us too.”

Graduation will take a big chunk out of this team’s production and leadership.

Foley, Monfa, Rush, Vigue and Finley Brown, along with Caoimhe Oliver and Madelyn Tierney, have played their last game in a Stags’ uniform.

“There’s nothing for the seniors to hang their heads about,” said Roberts. “Our captains, Finley, Annie, Evelyn, Jill and ‘Monf,’ are the best players on our team and are the best leaders too. The girls gravitate to them. I’ve enjoyed coaching them. I’ve watched them grow so much. Finley, Annie, Jill and ‘Monf’ are four of our top point-getters all time. Evelyn played the entire season without needing a backup. Throw in Caoimhe Oliver. Girls were gravitating to her during drills the other day. She was so important keeping marginal players invested. She was a critical part of our success. We wouldn’t have gone in (seeded number) four if Madelyn Tierney didn’t play the way she did when (junior) Rachel (LaSalle) was hurt and after. She played when her time came and she played her best.”

Cheverus’ cupboard won’t be bare next season, but it will take the 2025 Stags some time to round back into top competitor form.

“There will be a leadership vacuum next year, but we’ll build a culture first where we care about each other and play for each other,” said Roberts. “Then, we’ll try to fill some of those voids. It’s going to take the summer and some of the fall to build some resilience and togetherness.

“I’m sad this year is gone, because it was a great year, but I’m looking forward to next year.”

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