PORTLAND—Eight days ago, Waynflete’s girls’ soccer team traveled to defending Class C champion Sacopee Valley and suffered one of the most lopsided losses in the program’s storied history.

Wednesday afternoon at Fore River Fields, the Flyers had a chance at redemption and while they closed the gap considerably, they couldn’t quite find a way to put the ball in the net or earn a victory.

Waynflete had the better of the chances early in the game, but couldn’t finish and that proved costly as the Hawks took a 1-0 lead on senior Olivia Ridley’s goal with 10:52 to go in the first half. A little over seven minutes later, senior Morgan Carpenter finished with a perfectly placed shot to double the lead and make it 2-0 at halftime.

The Flyers kept battling in the second half and came as close to a goal as you possibly can without it counting, but they couldn’t cut into the deficit and Sacopee Valley went on to a 2-0 victory.

Waynflete fell to 8-4 and the Hawks improved to a perfect 12-0 in the process.

“We had our opportunities, but it comes down to finishing,” said Flyers coach Todd Dominski. “They put their chances away and we didn’t. 

Much better

After sweeping Sacopee Valley in 2013, including a 1-0 win in the Western C Final, Waynflete couldn’t solve the Hawks a year ago, settling for a pair of regular season ties, then losing at home in the semifinals, 1-0, as Sacopee Valley went on to win the championship.

So far this fall, the Hawks have met every challenge, winning all 11 previous games by a composite score of 48-5.

Waynflete started with a pair of 3-1 road victories, over Traip Academy and Fryeburg Academy, then lost at home to Falmouth, 2-0. The Flyers then rattled off wins over visiting North Yarmouth Academy (7-0), host Lake Region (2-1), host Old Orchard Beach (5-0), visiting Poland (2-0) and visiting Old Orchard Beach (5-0). After losing at home to Kennebunk, 1-0, Waynflete was humbled at Sacopee Valley, 7-0, last Tuesday.

“We knew we just didn’t come to play that day,” Dominski said. “That was our worst Class C loss in my seven years. They had an early goal and we just put our heads down.”

Saturday, the Flyers got back on track with a 2-0 victory at NYA.

Wednesday, on a fabulous fall afternoon, Waynflete did a lot of things right, but wound up with nothing to show for it.

Just 37 seconds in, senior Arianna Giguere’s throw in came to sophomore Ava Farrar in the box, but a Hawks defender broke it up at the last second.

After Sacopee Valley junior Mckenzie Murphy received a yellow card in the fifth minute and had to sit for 10 minutes, the Flyers continued to pressure, as a chance for junior Elizabeth Lualdi was broken up in the box and in the 11th minute, Giguere broke in one-on-one with Hawks junior goalkeeper Hannah Manchester, only to shoot just wide.

After Farrar headed a cross from junior Beata Vest just wide, Giguere had a shot blocked, a Farrar shot was tipped by Manchester off the post and out for a corner kick and on the ensuing corner, Giguere’s shot was blocked and came out to junior Isabel Canning, whose shot was saved by a sprawling Manchester.

“We had good looks, but they just didn’t go in,” Dominski said. “That’s how the game works. We’ll keep working hard to create and put the ball in the back of the net.”

Sacopee Valley’s first good chance didn’t come until the 24th minute, when senior Courtney Ryan had a shot stopped by Waynflete junior goalkeeper Ali Pope and Ridley’s rebound bid sailed high. After Ryan shot high seconds later, the Hawks’ next chance resulted in the game’s first goal.

The tally came with 10:52 to play in the half and was set up by sophomore Maya Jamerson-Martin, who hit Ridley in stride and after Ridley got by a defender, she shot high and to Pope’s right into the net for a 1-0 lead.

After Pope denied Ryan on a corner kick and Murphy sent a long free kick just high, the Hawks doubled their lead with 3:05 left.

This time, Ryan set up the goal, feeding Carpenter, who dribbled to the right side of the box before crossing a shot just inside the far post, beyond the reach of Pope for a 2-0 advantage.

Prior to the goal, the linesman had ruled a Sacopee Valley player offsides, but he lowered his flag and play resumed, leading to the score.

“(The official) said he pulled the flag down,” Dominski said. “It’s a tough break. Those things happen.” 

Late in the half, the hosts had a chance to cut the deficit in half, but Canning’s free kick to sophomore Lydia Giguere resulted in a shot that went just wide.

Waynflete’s frustrations continued in the second half.

Five minutes in, Farrar shot wide.

After Pope made a save on a Ridley header, at the other end, sophomore Amelia Bertaska fired a long shot which Manchester saved.

With 24:18 to go, the Hawks almost got a third goal, but after Murphy eluded a defender and unleashed a shot, Pope sprawled to make the save.

Midway through the second half, after a nice effort from Vest to keep the ball alive on the sidelines, the Flyers earned a corner kick, which was cleared by a Sacopee Valley defender.

Waynflete appeared primed to break through with 15:58 showing, as Farrar took a pass, got by a defender and shot past Manchester after she came off her line, but just before the ball rolled into the goal, Hawks senior back Jade Jordan kicked it wide to save the day.

With 9:35 left, an Arianna Giguere throw led to a Farrar header which was headed away by a defender. 

With 4:15 to go, a long shot from Canning was saved by Manchester.

With 2:18 remaining, Manchester managed to break up an Arianna Giguere feed to senior Esme Benson at the last second.

Finally, with just 23 seconds to play, a long free kick from senior Marijke Rowse went just wide and Sacopee Valley prevailed, 2-0.

“We didn’t have to recover from last time, it was just coming back and doing what we’ve done to be successful and that’s working hard,” said Dominski. 

The Hawks finished with a 16-11 edge in shots (7-4 on frame). Manchester made four saves.

Waynflete had a 3-2 edge in corner kicks and got five saves from Pope, but still fell short.

Playoff prep

Sacopee Valley (which has moved into first place in the Class C South Heal Points standings) looks to finish undefeated by beating visiting Wells Saturday and host Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

Waynflete (sixth in Class C South) plays its home finale Friday versus Traip Academy, then closes at Freeport Tuesday.

“I think the best we can do is maybe finish fifth,” Dominski said. “We may be sixth. Really no different than we’ve been in the past. We’d like to go in five for a quarterfinal and not have a prelim game. I think we’re getting into form. This was a good confidence builder. We played hard. I think if we see (Sacopee Valley) again, we’ll be prepared.”  

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Waynflete sophomore Ava Farrar races in on Sacopee Valley junior goalkeeper Hannah Manchester during a battle between the past two Class C state champion girls’ soccer teams Wednesday. Manchester denied Farrar on the play and the Hawks prevailed, 2-0.

Bruce Feeley photos.

Waynflete senior Arianna Giguere fights Sacopee Valley junior Jordan Miner for the ball.

Waynflete junior Beata Vest plays the ball away from Sacopee Valley senior Abby Hughes.

Waynflete sophomore Ava Farrar gets a step on Sacopee Valley junior Destini Rand.