Girls’ soccer advances with quarterfinal win over Thornton Academy

By Matt Pascarella

A thick fog surrounded the field and a very, very faint mist was coming down during the Class A South quarterfinal girls’ soccer playoff game at Windham High on Tuesday, Oct. 25 against Thornton Academy.  No. 3 Windham did not let the fact that No. 6 Thornton Academy jumped to a 1-0 lead early in the game diminish their hunger for a win as the Lady Eagles banded together and came back to tie the game, then passed the Trojans and won 6-2 after the final buzzer.

Windham senior Abbey Thornton takes a shot at the goal
during the first half of the Class A South quarterfinal 
girls' soccer playoff match on Tuesday, Oct. 25 against
Thornton Academy at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“We came out flat,” said Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel. “I think that one goal [which tied the game 1-1] gave us a little motivation. Once we started connecting with each other and that’s when we’ve said good things happen ... when we connect, it’s really hard to defend and I feel like that’s when we got things going.”

Windham varsity girls’ soccer assistant coach Jim Stewart said they played with an incredible confidence. When those connections are made, then it goes together like mad, Windham had three goals in just a few minutes during the first half.

Both Lebel and Stewart said there are many players contributing, not just the ones who scored goals. Players like sophomore Stella Jarvais, freshman Nola Bryant and senior Liz Levesque – just to name a few. This team is in a great place, wants to play and have made large improvements since the start of the season.

Halfway through the first half, Windham senior Liz Talbot tied the game 1-1 assisted by Levesque. After that, Windham showed they would not be caught this game.

Not 10 minutes later, senior Abbey Thornton scored assisted by senior Ashley Clark. Talbot scored again. Windham continued to pressure and at the half, led 3-1.

“I was really pumped for the first playoff game,” said Talbot. “I think we started kind of slow, but ... [the first goal] motivated us to push forward, because we all really wanted it. Our energy levels did go up a lot and we did good playing off in the back and moving it forward, we got a lot of good crosses and one-two passes in.”

Windham continued to pressure in the second half and Lady Eagle defense kept Thornton Academy’s goals to a minimum. Windham senior goalie Reilly Russell had a total of eight saves. Abbey Thornton would score twice in the second half, once assisted by sophomore Kyla Harvie and once assisted by Talbot. Harvie fired a shot at net and when Thornton Academy defense tried to stop it, they knocked it into their own goal.

Thornton Academy did score with about a minute left in the game, but it was too late for them; by then Windham had made it impossible for the Trojans to catch up.

“It was one of the last times we will play on this [home] field as seniors, so I just enjoyed this moment with my best friends and play soccer,” said Thornton.

Thornton said the team is resilient and did not get down after that first goal. Thornton plans to keep playing her hardest as Windham moves onto the semifinals.

Windham will play No. 2 Gorham in the Class A semifinal at Gorham High School on Friday, Oct. 28.

Lebel said they are much better than the first time they played the Rams; they’ve made a few adjustments and they are going to see that come out. <