Elayna Girardin has watched her Freeport High School girls soccer team out-possess and outchance nearly all of its Western Maine Conference opponents this season.

Coming into Tuesday’s contest with 3-4 Lake Region, the Falcons sat at 1-6. There have been heartbreaking losses, like the 2-1 loss to Gray-New Gloucester and a 1-0 setback against Fryeburg Academy. Freeport even held a 2-0 lead against talented Yarmouth before falling, 4-2.

Once again, Girardin was frustrated with her team’s lack of luck, as the Lakers and Falcons left the pitch in a 1-1 tie, giving Freeport a 1-6-1 mark with North Yarmouth Academy up next on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

“It has been a tough season because I feel that we are better than our record shows, and we just lack the luck and the ability to get (the ball) into the goal,” said Girardin. “If it was an inch this way or that way, we win. And, their goalie did make some great saves, and that is why we left here in a tie.”

Most of the first half was all Falcons, who pinned the Lakers (3-4-1) into their defensive zone. Maddie Squibb shot just wide off a nice setup from Alyssa Richardson, and Julia Smith sprinted down the left side past two Lake Region defenders before whistling a shot off the outside of the net.

After three straight corner kicks by Freeport, Lake Region broke out of its zone. Lakers standout Sierra Hancock gained control and sent a 25-yard shot over the head of Freeport goaltender Izzy Qualls (four saves) for a 1-0 lead with 31:31 left in the half.

Moments later, the Falcons earned a penalty kick. With a chance to tie quickly, Lake Region goaltender Isabel Scribner robbed Lauren Cormier’s low shot to keep her team in the lead.

“We have a had a couple games that the ball took a wrong bounce and ended up in our net,” said Girardin. “They work really hard and they fight to keep that ball out of the net. We just have to figure out how to get it into the net on the other end.”

Undaunted, Freeport kept coming, using outside runs by Smith and Richardson to earn chances.

The Falcons finally cashed in, thanks to sisters Amber and Julia Smith. Amber Smith beat her defender along the sideline and sent a cross to her sibling. A slight bobble was followed by a wellplaced shot inside the left post to tie the game.

“It wasn’t my ideal goal from the wing, but it was a goal,” said Julia Smith.

“Sometimes when we get frustrated we look to just run and not check back,” said Girardin. “Julia’s strength is when the ball is on her foot. When she is doing that, she is tough to defend.”

Freeport held a 7-3 shots advantage in the first half, and the territorial domination continued throughout most of the second half. Jill Baker’s speed gave the Falcons a few chances to score, but Scribner was on the spot each time, making five of her six saves over a 10-minute stretch of the second period to keep the game tied.

Lake Region nearly potted the game-winner midway through the frame. Megan Boos picked up a loose ball to the right of the Freeport cage with nothing but net to shoot at. But, Freeport defender Courtney Broderick was able to deflect the shot out of bounds to keep the Falcons from suffering a damaging loss.

In overtime, Qualls came up with a save on Melody Millett as the time ticked away.

“This is the type of game that we have lost throughout the year,” said Girardin after her team outshot Lake Region 15-8 and held a 5- 1 edge in corner kicks. “This was a game that we had to win. Once we are in the playoffs, we will be a challenger. We just have to get there.”

Lake Region 1,
Freeport 1

At Freeport
LakeRegion—1000—1
Freeport— 1000—1
Goals — (LR) Sierra Hancock; (F) Julia Smith.
Assist — (F) Amber Smith.
Shots — Freeport 15, Lake Region 8.
Saves — (LR) Isabel Scribner 6; (F) Izzy
Qualls 4.
Corner kicks — Freeport 5, Lake Region 1.
Records — Freeport 1-6-1, Lake Region 3-4-1.
Up next for the Falcons — Thursday at North
Yarmouth Academy, 3:30 p.m.