Call them the champions. Windham Christian Academy's middle school soccer team claimed the 2024 Maine Christian School Sports League title by defeating Coastal Christian School of Waldoboro, 2-1, in sudden death overtime at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 2.
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| Windham Christian Academy's middle school team won the 2024 Maine Christian School Sports League's soccer title by defeating Coastal Christian School of Waldoboro, 2-1, in sudden-death overtime in Portland on Nov. 2. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Coach Whitney Coppersmith said the championship matchup was tough for Windham Christian because both teams were well-matched in skill and determination.
“Both sides fought hard, and every play mattered.” Coppersmith said.
In the first half, WCA opened the scoring on a goal by Elija Popov, who capitalized on a rebound to put WCA ahead, 1-0. Coastal Christian evened the score at 1-1 in the second half and that’s how it ended after regulation play, forcing a winner-take-all sudden-death overtime.
Within the first 30 seconds of overtime, Popov scored again with an assist by Liam White, securing the title for Windham Christian.
“I believe the difference came down to our team’s resilience and ability to stay calm under pressure,” Coppersmith said. “Our players communicated well, stayed focused, hustled, and truly worked together. They wanted this win, and it showed in their effort on the field.”
Training for the season started in mid-August and WCA’s first league game was played Sept. 10. WCA progressed throughout the season without major setbacks and Coppersmith said some of the best moments of the year were seeing the team come together on the field, learning to play as one, getting into the right positions, passing, and communicating effectively.
“Watching them grow in unity and confidence was incredibly rewarding. If I had to describe our team in five words, it would be resilient, unified, determined, faithful, and adaptable,” Coppersmith said. “I believe our team won the championship because we focused on continuous improvement throughout the season. Some games presented us with new challenges, and our players showed remarkable dedication to learning and growing together. They supported each other, built strong teamwork, and remained committed to our goals. It was their collective effort and resilience that truly made a difference in our success.”
Team members include Lucas Stewart (Sixth Grade); Leah Sinclair (Seventh Grade); Mason Dodd (Eighth Grade); Jacob Frederick (Eighth Grade); Arseniy Popov (Seventh Grade); Judah Knights (Eighth Grade); Liam White (Eighth Grade); Piper Justice (Sixth Grade); Victoria Presby (Seventh Grade); Toby Dupuis (Seventh Grade); Anna Willings (Fifth Grade); Kirill Popov (Fifth Grade); Elsa Pearson (Seventh Grade); Haddie Coppersmith (Sixth Grade); Brenna Wheeler (Sixth Grade); Abigail Watkins (Eighth Grade); Ethan Brewer (Eighth Grade); Eli Coppersmith (Eighth Grade); Elija Popov (Eighth Grade); Radiance Yer (Fifth Grade); and Zemirah Yer (Sixth Grade).
The coach said that winning the championship is a significant milestone for the WCA sports program and for the school as a whole.
“It’s not only a reward for the players’ hard work, but also a step forward in building stronger sports programs at WCA,” she said. “We’re committed to developing our teams and creating more opportunities for our athletes to grow and succeed, while fostering a culture of kindness, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. This team has exemplified respect and integrity, showing that true success goes beyond just winning.”
WCA’s middle school soccer team is co-ed and made up of fifth through eighth graders from WCA and included some local homeschoolers, allowing them the opportunity to join a sports team. Besides Coppersmith, assistant coaches were offensive coach Michael Manning, and defensive coach Leah Sinclair.
During its run to winning the championship, coaches singled out striker Elijah Popov as the team’s unsung hero.
“He played not for praise but for the sheer enjoyment of the game and shines under pressure,” Coppersmith said. “Elija scored many goals throughout the season, including the most crucial ones we needed. His contributions were invaluable.”
Coaches said WCA’s goalkeeper, Ethan Brewer, was outstanding not just in the title game, but throughout the season.
“This was his third year on the team. He made critical saves that kept us in the game and brought a steady, composed presence to our defense,” Coppersmith said. “His ability to direct the ball and keep morale high was invaluable. In my opinion, he’s one of the best goalies in the league, and his performance throughout the season truly showed that.”
The school is planning a team celebration to honor the players’ hard work and dedication, with awards to recognize individual contributions.
“It will be a great opportunity to reflect on the season’s journey, celebrate each player’s role, and enjoy this accomplishment together,” Coppersmith said. <
Training for the season started in mid-August and WCA’s first league game was played Sept. 10. WCA progressed throughout the season without major setbacks and Coppersmith said some of the best moments of the year were seeing the team come together on the field, learning to play as one, getting into the right positions, passing, and communicating effectively.
“Watching them grow in unity and confidence was incredibly rewarding. If I had to describe our team in five words, it would be resilient, unified, determined, faithful, and adaptable,” Coppersmith said. “I believe our team won the championship because we focused on continuous improvement throughout the season. Some games presented us with new challenges, and our players showed remarkable dedication to learning and growing together. They supported each other, built strong teamwork, and remained committed to our goals. It was their collective effort and resilience that truly made a difference in our success.”
Team members include Lucas Stewart (Sixth Grade); Leah Sinclair (Seventh Grade); Mason Dodd (Eighth Grade); Jacob Frederick (Eighth Grade); Arseniy Popov (Seventh Grade); Judah Knights (Eighth Grade); Liam White (Eighth Grade); Piper Justice (Sixth Grade); Victoria Presby (Seventh Grade); Toby Dupuis (Seventh Grade); Anna Willings (Fifth Grade); Kirill Popov (Fifth Grade); Elsa Pearson (Seventh Grade); Haddie Coppersmith (Sixth Grade); Brenna Wheeler (Sixth Grade); Abigail Watkins (Eighth Grade); Ethan Brewer (Eighth Grade); Eli Coppersmith (Eighth Grade); Elija Popov (Eighth Grade); Radiance Yer (Fifth Grade); and Zemirah Yer (Sixth Grade).
The coach said that winning the championship is a significant milestone for the WCA sports program and for the school as a whole.
“It’s not only a reward for the players’ hard work, but also a step forward in building stronger sports programs at WCA,” she said. “We’re committed to developing our teams and creating more opportunities for our athletes to grow and succeed, while fostering a culture of kindness, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. This team has exemplified respect and integrity, showing that true success goes beyond just winning.”
WCA’s middle school soccer team is co-ed and made up of fifth through eighth graders from WCA and included some local homeschoolers, allowing them the opportunity to join a sports team. Besides Coppersmith, assistant coaches were offensive coach Michael Manning, and defensive coach Leah Sinclair.
During its run to winning the championship, coaches singled out striker Elijah Popov as the team’s unsung hero.
“He played not for praise but for the sheer enjoyment of the game and shines under pressure,” Coppersmith said. “Elija scored many goals throughout the season, including the most crucial ones we needed. His contributions were invaluable.”
Coaches said WCA’s goalkeeper, Ethan Brewer, was outstanding not just in the title game, but throughout the season.
“This was his third year on the team. He made critical saves that kept us in the game and brought a steady, composed presence to our defense,” Coppersmith said. “His ability to direct the ball and keep morale high was invaluable. In my opinion, he’s one of the best goalies in the league, and his performance throughout the season truly showed that.”
The school is planning a team celebration to honor the players’ hard work and dedication, with awards to recognize individual contributions.
“It will be a great opportunity to reflect on the season’s journey, celebrate each player’s role, and enjoy this accomplishment together,” Coppersmith said. <
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