U-13 and U-14 girls’ Windham Youth Soccer teams savor great playoff runs

Windham's Under-14 girls soccer team made it to the finals
against Merrymeeting on Sunday, Nov. 7 at Mount Ararat
High School, but fell in the title game, 2-0.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Youth Soccer Association’s Under-13 and Under-14 girls’ teams enjoyed nice postseasons.

The U-13 team made it to the semifinals where they played Bangor on Sunday Oct. 31 at Freeport High School. Windham played tough but lost 3-2 in overtime.

The U-14 girls made it to the state championship on Nov. 7 at Mount Ararat High School against the Merrymeeting Soccer Club. Merrymeeting had strong defense, but Windham fought hard. Merrymeeting won 2-0.

To reach the semifinals, the U-13 Windham team played a very tough Portland Area Youth soccer team.  In that game, Windham seventh-grader Maya Dries put in what would prove to be the game winning goal and the defense, anchored by seventh-graders Eva Vancellette and Mackenzie Delewski were able to keep Portand scoreless to advance.

Windham had finished the regular season undefeated and only allowed two goals in during those games. The Lady Eagles entered the tournament ranked first overall. Windham fought fiercely against Bangor and tied it up at the end of regulation after Delewski scored at the start of the second half. Windham seventh-grader Leandra Woodman scored near the end of the second half to tie the game at two. But Bangor scored in overtime and prevailed.

“Scoring that goal was such an amazing feeling,” said Woodman. “Coming back from an injury was tough and I felt like I lost my position on the team, but my coach and teammates helped me get back in the game. It's a great team; we support each other.”

Windham’s U-13 had excellent goaltending by seventh graders Libby Hartwell and Chloe Poitras.

“This team came together this year ... and quickly connected and began playing as a team,” said Windham U-13 coach Brian Dries. “They rose to every challenge they faced, rebounding time after time to meet the next challenge.  In the playoffs, everyone had contributions to the success of the team.”

The U-14 Windham girls closed the regular season undefeated and earned the top seed in the Soccer Maine Championship Cup playoffs.

In the regional final against Scarborough, Windham was ahead 1-0 in the first half, but Scarborough tied the game before the half ended. Eighth-grader Marley Jarvais scored the game-winning goal to send Windham through to the state final for the third consecutive year.

“I don’t really think of it as if I scored that goal,” said Jarvais. “I think that the events and how we played lead us to score that goal and we worked all together.” 

Jarvais said it was great playing on the team. She didn’t think they would have gone as far if it wasn’t for their coaches and the team’s ability to get along as well as they did. 

Windham played Merrymeeting Soccer Club for the second time in their three years of reaching the state championship game. At halftime, Merrymeeting was up 1-0.

While Windham gave it their all and had many scoring opportunities in the second half, Merrymeeting’s defense was tough. Windham fought, but Merrymeeting pulled off a 2-0 win.

Windham finished second in the 2021 Champions Cup. 

 “We’re really proud of the way the team played this year,” said Windham U-14 coach Craig Broadbent. “None of their success would have been possible without their commitment to team goals. Windham has some of the best ball handlers, passers, defenders and goal scorers in the state.” <