WINDHAM—Longtime Cheverus girls’ soccer coach Craig Roberts said last week in preparation for facing preseason favorite Windham that the Eagles are the gold standard in Class A South.

And Tuesday evening, Roberts, much to his chagrin, found out he was correct, as Windham, on its home field, lived up billing and stayed red-hot in a battle of unbeaten contenders.

The Stags struck first, when senior captain Jill Foley scored in the 13th minute, but less than three minutes later, the Eagles responded, as senior Emily Talbot found the net.

Windham dominated play for most of the first half and with 14:09 remaining before halftime, junior Marley Jarvais scored to put the Eagles ahead to stay.

Jarvais then set up sophomore Mackenzie Delewski for a goal four minutes into the second half and Windham went on to a 3-1 victory.

The Eagles won their eighth game in a row, improved to 8-0-1 and in the process, dropped Cheverus to 7-1-2.

“I’m disappointed in the result, but I know what we can work on,” Roberts said. “We still have time to correct those things and improve.”

Progressively more difficult

Cheverus and Windham have each faced their share of tests this season and there are more on the horizon.

The Stags started by beating host Marshwood (5-1) and host Biddeford (5-0) before settling for a 1-1 draw at Falmouth. Cheverus then blanked visiting Portland (9-0), won at Westbrook (7-1) and beat both visiting Deering and host Kennebunk by 3-0 scores. Last week, the Stags settled for a 1-1 home draw against two-time reigning Class A champion Scarborough, then rolled at Massabesic, 7-0.

Windham, meanwhile, has lived up to billing as a title favorite, opening with a 2-2 tie at Thornton Academy, then handling visiting Noble (7-1), blanking host Falmouth (2-0) and visiting South Portland (3-0) before edging Gorham (4-3) and beating Biddeford (6-0), Deering (3-1) and Bonny Eagle (7-0).

A year ago, the Eagles opened with a 2-0 win at Cheverus, then the squads settled for a 2-2 draw at Windham in the regular season finale.

Tuesday, on a chilly evening (54 degrees at kickoff, plummeting to 45 by game’s end), the Stags sought their first win over Windham since a 1-0 home triumph Oct. 8, 2019, but instead, the Eagles put on a clinic of attacking and finishing.

Cheverus sophomore Maddie Smith boots the ball up the field early in the Stags’ 3-1 loss at Windham Tuesday. Hoffer photos.

The Eagles set the tone by earning a corner kick in the game’s first minute and nearly scoring, as Jarvais served the ball in, it landed in the box and was sent on target only to be headed out by a Cheverus defender.

In the seventh minute, Talbot fired her first shot, but it was saved by Stags senior goalkeeper Evelyn Rush.

Cheverus’ first bid came in the 10th minute, but senior Sophia Monfa was wide with a shot on the run.

The Stags then struck first with 27:46 on the first half clock.

After Windham turned the ball over, Monfa got the ball to Foley up top and Foley’s shot short-hopped and got past Eagles sophomore goalkeeper Libby Hartwell.

“Our speed of play was quick at the start of the game and we moved the ball well and got an early goal,” Roberts said. “We talked about shooting low and hard on the wet surface.”

But Cheverus wasn’t able to build on its early momentum and Windham would control play for the majority of the rest of the half.

With 25:08 to go before halftime, Talbot won the ball in the middle of the field, then found some room and ripped a low shot that Rush got a hand on but couldn’t stop and just like that, the contest was deadlocked.

“We just had to put that (first goal) behind us and focus on what was ahead,” Talbot said. “It was kind of an unlucky goal to give up, but we were controlling the game and I knew we’d eventually get one. I noticed from the start that the grass is really slick and we had to take advantage of the field conditions. I knew a lower shot to the corner would probably slide by her. She got a hand on it, but the conditions obviously helped.”

“I think that was Emily’s best game of the season,” said longtime Windham coach Deb LeBel. “She was on fire tonight. She had tons of energy. She loves to play up top and I don’t always have her up there. When I give her that opportunity, she takes advantage.”

After Rush saved a free kick from senior Kyla Harvie and senior Tayla Pelletier headed a corner kick just over the bar, the Eagles went in front to stay with 14:09 remaining in the half.

The goal was set up by junior Neve Ledbetter, who got the ball to Jarvais and Jarvais beat a diving Rush with a shot to the right corner.

“We gave them way too much respect and space between our backs and our mids,” said Roberts. “We have good, quick, aggressive players and we didn’t deny their turns, then they ran at us and got into our final third too easily and that’s not sustainable. When I scouted them and when I told the girls about them, you talk about Talbot, both Jarvais sisters, Harvie, Pelletier out of the back, Ledbetter. That’s a lot of players you have to plan for. They move different places and you have to be more composed that we were tonight.”

Windham didn’t sit on its lead and had some great looks at a third goal, but couldn’t produce it before the break.

First, freshman Emily Wardwell beat a defender and unleashed a promising shot that Rush saved.

Talbot then had a long shot saved before floating a ball that appeared goal-bound, only to have Rush punch it away at the last second.

After Rush denied Talbot again, Cheverus went back on the attack, but in transition, Monfa set up junior Alaina Holmes for a shot that went just wide and senior Annie Vigue missed just wide, keeping the score 2-1 at halftime.

In the first 40 minutes, the Eagles enjoyed a 10-1 advantage in shots on frame, but Rush kept the Stags in the game with eight saves.

Windham would get further separation early in the second half.

Windham junior Marley Jarvais keeps the ball from Cheverus junior Kate Prestes.

Just 28 seconds in, Talbot shot on the move and forced Rush to make the save.

After Rush denied Jarvais’ long bid, Vigue tried to pull the Stags even, but her long shot was saved by Hartwell.

Then, with 35:42 to go in regulation, Delewski made it a 3-1 game by taking a cross from Jarvais, then beating Rush at the far post.

“We had a ton of chances,” Talbot said. “We don’t always finish them and that’s something we have to work on because against better teams, we won’t get that many chances and we have to capitalize on the ones we get. Overall, I think we did a good job finishing the chances we did have.”

Vigue did her best to get Cheverus back in the game, ripping a pair of promising shots, but the first was saved by Hartwell and the second sailed just wide.

After Monfa missed wide, the Stags had one more great opportunity, as senior Finley Brown set up Vigue for a good look with 2:47 to play, but Hartwell lunged and knocked the ball out of harm’s way at the last second.

Windham ran out the clock from there and celebrated its 3-1 victory.

“I think we did really well tonight,” Talbot said. “We faced a little adversity with the physicality of the game, but we did a good job pulling through in the end. We knew it would be a good game.”

“We rose to the occasion against a good team,” said LeBel. “They had an undefeated record and they’re well-coached. We knew it would be a battle. They scored first and I’m glad we responded. We could have caved a little bit there, so I’m proud of the team for coming back.”

The Eagles finished with a 13-5 shots advantage, a 6-1 edge in corner kicks and got four saves from Hartwell.

Cheverus got 10 saves from Rush, but couldn’t hold a powerful team at bay.

“You have to expect a push from a top team,” Roberts said. “The more big games we can play coming down the stretch, composure will come. I’m not sure it was where it needed to be tonight. Organization of the backs and denying the ball are correctable things. Hopefully by playoffs, there will be little that needs correcting.”

Stretch run

Windham’s week gets no easier as it goes to Scarborough for a highly-anticipated showdown Thursday. The Eagles (currently ranked first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) still have home games remaining against Sanford, Portland and Thornton Academy, as well as a trip to Marshwood.

“We’re improving,” Talbot said. “We started with a tie and we’ve pushed ahead. It’s great to have this win, but we have to focus on what’s ahead of us. We have a tough game Thursday. We’re looking forward to playing Scarborough. Games like that make us better. There’s a lot of pressure being considered the team to beat. We’ve stayed undefeated and we can’t let that get to us. We’ll focus on what we can control. We won’t think too far ahead because anything can happen.”

“That’s a big one Thursday,” said LeBel. “We’ll see if we have legs for it. They’ve had our number. We’re excited to play them. They’re a top tier team that’s well coached. We know it will be a battle.”

Cheverus (which is fifth in Class A South) is back in action Thursday at home versus Bonny Eagle, then has two huge games next week, at Thornton Academy Monday morning and home versus Gorham Wednesday. The Stags finish the regular season at home against South Portland.

“I’m confident we’ll get back on track,” said Roberts. “We have no choice. It’s a senior group that wants to get to a certain place, so they know they’ll have to bounce back. We have really good leadership and I think that will continue.”

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