After the Waynflete girls’ soccer team got past rival North Yarmouth Academy in the Western Class C quarterfinals Oct. 27, many felt the Flyers were on their way to a second straight state championship.

Problem is, nobody told the Georges Valley Buccaneers.

Last Wednesday in Thomaston, Waynflete couldn’t hold an early lead and saw its season end in surprising fashion with a 2-1 loss at the Bucs, who went on to win the Class C title with a 1-0 victory over Orono Saturday.

The Flyers posted a superb 13-1 regular season mark (marred only by a 4-0 loss at NYA Oct. 3) and earned the No. 4 seed in Western C. After disposing of the Panthers 2-1 in its first playoff test, Waynflete dominated No. 8 Sacopee 5-0 in the semifinals, earning a date at Georges Valley, a team the Flyers don’t play in the regular season and one they downed 3-0 in the semis a year ago.

When senior standout Morgan Woodhouse scored in the early going, it appeared as if Waynflete was en route to another win, but the Buccaneers answered with a pair of first half goals, then held off the Flyers down the stretch to win, 2-1.

“The girls played hard,” said Waynflete coach Todd Dominski. “We were up one within the first two minutes, then the other team tied the game by the third minute. The second goal they scored was a floater that went between (the goalie’s) hands and the bar. We came out the second half and put a lot of pressure on them. We just couldn’t finish. Goals that we normally score we rushed and ended up hitting them right to the keeper. I am very proud of the girls and think we had a great season. The girls grew as players and really came together as a team.”

The Flyers fell in the regional final for the third time in four years, but figure to be right back in the mix in 2010. Despite losing Woodhouse and senior star Sasha Timpson, Waynflete has plenty of talent in reserve.

“I’m looking forward to next year because we are returning so many kids with varsity experience,” Dominski said. “It will be hard to replace the seniors that we are losing, but I think the girls learned a lot from them and will be able to step up next year. Also, the girls will come in being familiar with me and an understanding of how I want them to play the game.”

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

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