BANGOR—The best boys’ soccer team in Greely history?

That’s debatable.

The Rangers being the team without peer in Class B this fall?

Indisputable.

Saturday afternoon at Cameron Stadium, Greely capped the first unbeaten campaign in program history with a decisive state final victory over John Bapst.

The Rangers went in front to stay in the 14th minute, when junior Connor Skillin’s cross deflected off a Crusaders defender and in.

Greely had chances to add to its lead before halftime, but couldn’t do so and it was still anyone’s contest when the second half began.

But less than seven minutes in, Skillin scored a more conventional goal, from senior Bez Mendelsohn, for some breathing room.

Then, with 20:30 to play, off a corner kick serve from senior Sam Anania, senior captain Owen Piesik soared and headed the ball home to end all doubt and the Rangers went on to a 3-0 victory.

Greely returned to the pinnacle for the first time in 11 years, capped its best-ever season at 17-0-1, ended John Bapst’s campaign at 16-2 and won a Gold Ball for the ninth time in program history.

“It’s my first undefeated team,” said longtime Rangers coach Mike Andreasen. “We’ve had some really good teams. It’s hard to put them in order. These kids, competitor-wise, we’ll put up against anybody. Unless someone goes 18-0, you won’t beat this record.”

A dream season

Greely had languished in Yarmouth’s shadow for the past decade, but felt it had what it took to make a run this fall.

Did it ever.

The Rangers settled for a home tie versus the Clippers in the opener, then ran the table, including a first-victory-in-Yarmouth-in-a-decade, to stake its claim as the team to beat in Class B South.

As the top seed for the first time since 1985, Greely blanked No. 8 Fryeburg Academy (6-0) in the quarterfinals, held off No. 4 Cape Elizabeth (3-2) in the semifinals, then ended second-ranked Yarmouth’s run of eight titles in nine seasons with a 1-0 win in Wednesday’s regional final.

“That (Yarmouth) win was huge,” said Rangers senior captain and center-back Mason Rogers. “There was a lot of pressure on that game and I’m glad we got it done.”

“It was a challenging playoff run,” said Skillin. “Cape and Yarmouth are both great and we were very happy to pull through in those games.”

“I rated that Yarmouth game a 50-50 toss-up,” Andreasen added. “They had experience. We got an early one and both teams had good chances. We lucked out because that game was tough.”

John Bapst, meanwhile, lost only to Ellsworth in the regular season, then eliminated No. 8 Presque Isle (6-1) in the quarterfinals and edged No. 5 Ellsworth (1-0) in the semifinals before downing second-seeded Medomak Valley (3-1) in the regional final round.

Greely entered the contest 8-1 all-time in the state final, although it had been awhile since the Rangers had been on the big stage (see sidebar for previous results).

The Crusaders, meanwhile, had lost their prior four appearances, including last year’s 7-0 setback to Yarmouth.

Greely and John Bapst had no playoff history.

Saturday, on an afternoon which featured gusting winds and a temperature of 44 degrees (which dropped throughout the game), the Rangers did what it took to make their fans exult as they captured the big prize.

Greely had some good chances early, but a cross from Skillin was saved by Crusaders senior goalkeeper Connor Messervey, Mendelsohn set up senior captain Owen Partridge for a shot which was saved and a Partridge header off a long pass from Rogers was saved as well.

Then, with 26:28 on the clock, the Rangers took the lead.

With a little help.

Sophomore back Gavin Byrne played a long ball ahead to Skillin on the left. Skillin raced up the sideline then crossed the ball in the direction of Mendelsohn and junior Hunter Caiazzo, but the feed went off the heel of a John Bapst defender and in for a 1-0 advantage.

“I was trying to find Bez making a run in, but it was just a lucky play and it happened to go in the goal,” Skillin said.

Greely nearly doubled its lead in the 20th minute, as Piesik set up Partridge on the doorstep, but he was robbed by Messervey.

The Crusaders then had some chances to answer.

Off a cross from junior Moritz Mueller, senior Oscar Martinez had a look in front to tie the score, but he couldn’t make contact.

After a John Bapst corner kick was cleared, a free kick at the top of the box from junior Cooper Lewis sailed high.

Down the stretch, Crusaders senior back Giusseppe Aulisa made a defensive save to keep a Partridge shot out of the goal.

At the other end, a free kick from John Bapst senior Logan Hart was cleared and the Rangers, despite having an opportunity to pull away, clung to a 1-0 lead.

Greely came out much stronger in the second half.

After Skillin missed just high, a shot from Byrne was saved and Skillin hit the far post, with Piesik sending the rebound just wide.

The Rangers stayed on the attack and were awarded with 33:21 to play, as junior Cade Potts headed the ball forward to Mendelsohn, who passed off to Skillin to his left and Skillin dribbled in before firing a shot past Messervey and into the net to make it 2-0.

“After the first half ended, Coach told us we hadn’t played our best,” Skillin said. “We turned it around in the second half and put it in the net quickly. Bez took the ball, slotted it behind the back line, I made a run and put it in near post.”

“There was definitely a lot of pressure coming out after halftime, but our coaches gave us a good talk and we got it done,” said Rogers.

“We were not happy at halftime,” Andreasen added. “We didn’t play well and the goal was lucky. They were playing as well as we were. The second half was dominant. That’s the way we can play. Once we get a two-goal lead, we’re pretty much lights-out.”

After Mueller missed wide for the Crusaders, Greely pushed the lead to three with 20:30 remaining, off a beautiful corner kick.

Anania served the ball in toward the back post and all Piesik had to do was soar and head it home.

“That was a great ball by Sam and Owen just put it away,” Skillin said.

“Owen just willed his way through and Sam’s done that all year for us,” Andreasen said.

From there, the Rangers’ defense locked in and John Bapst only had one more look, a shot that senior Elmer Robichaud sent high.

At 4:58 p.m., the final horn sounded and Greely was able to celebrate its 3-0 victory and the state title.

“It feels great,” said Skillin. “It’s been a long time coming. We knew it would be a hard game. We got the job done. Just moving the ball around, finding spaces, everyone had a part. Our defense has been great the entire year. We’re just happy for them.”

“It’s been my dream since I’ve been in high school to win it,” Rogers said. “We worked so hard all season. I’m so glad we got it done. We always knew we had a good team. We saw how it went and it turned out we were the best team.”

“Our goal wasn’t to win this,” added Andreasen. “Our goal was to just play good soccer and have a good season. After we won the Yarmouth game, we said, ‘OK, we can win this thing.’ The guys love playing and having fun.  I coached these kids as U-14s and we knew it was a special group then. They loved the game and wanted to get better.

“It’s (the late and legendary Greely coach Glenn Hutchins’ 93rd) birthday and I know he’s smiling down on us. I think for a team to win, you have to have a ‘seniors in need” theory, for them to feel that this it for them. They played like that all year.”

The Rangers had a commanding advantage in shots on frame (15-2), got two saves from junior goalkeeper Landon Dominski and took four corner kicks, with one of them resulting in a goal.

Greely’s defense was tremendous throughout.

“Staying deep was our biggest thing defensively,” Rogers said. “That and not letting them cross the ball and getting out as quickly as we could.”

“(The Crusaders) have dangerous kids,” Andreasen said. “They were getting around us and getting in. Mason was immense. Gavin Byrne was immense today. He played hard.”

Messervey stopped a dozen shots for John Bapst, which lost in the state final for the third consecutive season. The Crusaders also took four corner kicks.

“Defensively, they really shut us down,” said John Bapst coach Jason Pangburn. “They’re so solid in the back. They just won everything in the midfield. Like the second goal they scored, we put a ball out to the midfield, they were able to win the ball and they attack so quickly.”

Start of something big

Greely will be hard hit by graduation, as the likes of Anania, Mendelsohn, Partridge, Piesik, Rogers and Asa Giffune all depart.

The Rangers will have plenty of firepower back, however, and could do something the program hasn’t accomplished since 1974-75.

Win back-to-back titles.

“These seniors will be tough to replace,” said Andreasen. “They’re big contributors. We have some really good players back. Cade, Connor, Landon, Gavin. It’s a good start. What we’ve got to get is younger guys behind them to go in and compete. Who knows what next year will bring.”

Press Herald staff writer Travis Lazarczyk contributed to this story.

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