WATERBORO—The Josie Duncan Show took centerstage Tuesday evening at Massabesic High School and thanks in large part to its standout freshman, Scarborough’s girls’ soccer team has punched its ticket back to the state final.

Facing top-ranked Windham in the Class A South Final, the second-ranked Red Storm immediately seized control of the contest when senior Grace Carlista scored a goal a mere 48 seconds in.

If that wasn’t enough to stagger the Eagles, Scarborough doubled its lead in the 17th minute, when Duncan, a freshman mind you, somehow got a 50-yard free kick to bounce off the turf and in.

Duncan came within inches of converting another free kick five minutes later and that miss turned momentum to Windham, which got back in the game with 10:35 remaining in the first half, as senior standout Emily Talbot finished.

The Eagles battled for the equalizer deep into the second half, but couldn’t get it and then, with 8:04 remaining, Duncan (did I mention she’s a freshman?) ended all doubt by lofting a 35-yard free kick into the net, putting the finishing touch on the Red Storm’s 3-1 victory.

Scarborough improved to 14-1-2, ended Windham’s fine season at 14-2-1 and advanced to its third consecutive Class A state final where it will battle Bangor (16-1) Saturday at 12:30 p.m., at Morse High School in Bath.

“It means a lot to hold the trophy for the first time,” Duncan said. “It’s an amazing feeling. It was definitely nerve-wracking coming in. There was a lot of pressure to win, but I knew we were going to. I knew it would be hard, but that we could do it.”

Peaking at the right time

After winning the past two Class A state titles and riding the individual brilliance of Lana Djuranovic (who is now playing for the University of Miami) last season, the Red Storm were supposed to come back to the pack in 2024.

It didn’t happen.

Scarborough did settle for a ties at home versus Gorham and at Cheverus and dropped a stunning 2-1 decision at Falmouth on a goal with under a second to play, but the Red Storm gradually turned into a powerhouse as the season progressed and they won their final five games.

In the Class A South quarterfinals, Scarborough rode a second half surge to a 4-1 win over No. 7 Marshwood. In last Friday’s semifinal round, the Red Storm ousted No. 3 Gorham, 4-2.

Windham, meanwhile, was viewed by many as the favorite this year and other than an early tie versus Thornton Academy and a loss at Scarborough, lived up to billing.

The Eagles rolled past No. 8 Kennebunk (8-0) in the quarterfinals and ousted No. 4 Cheverus with relative ease in last Saturday’s semifinal round as well (3-0).

In the teams’ regular season meeting Oct. 10, Duncan and junior Paige Garlock scored to give host Scarborough a 2-1 win.

“When we played Windham the first time is when I thought we could do it,” said longtime Red Storm coach Mike Farley. “We had just lost to Falmouth. When we handled (Windham) as well as we did at our home, I thought we could have something. Then, every game since it’s gotten better and better and better. The girls have hit their groove.”

The teams had met six previous times in the playoffs, with the Red Storm holding a 4-2 edge. The most recent encounter came in the 2018 Class A South semifinals, a 1-0 overtime victory for Scarborough.

Tuesday, on a comfortable early November evening (58 degrees and little wind at kickoff), Windham hoped to get past its recent nemesis, but nothing was stopping the Red Storm Express, which came roaring out of the gate.

Scarborough’s first offensive foray saw Carlista get some room on the left side and she raced in and with the game just 48 seconds old, ripped a shot with her left foot that got past Eagles sophomore goalkeeper Libby Hartwell, hit the far post, then ricocheted in to give the Red Storm a lead they would never relinquish.

“I had the opportunity to drive forward and I took the shot,” Carlista said. “I was just trying to get it on net. It was amazing.”

“Grace has a great shot,” said Duncan. “It was phenomenal when she scored. It brought our energy and intensity up so high.”

“Grace is deadly with her left foot,” added Farley. “She caught the goalkeeper off guard. We got a good bounce there. You always want to lead because it puts pressure on the other team. We could settle down.”

Talbot tried to counter for Windham, but missed wide.

After Duncan sent her first free kick wide, Eagles senior Stella Jarvais headed a corner kick just wide, then Scarborough senior goalkeeper Sophia Rinaldi beat junior Neve Ledbetter to a cross from sophomore Mackenzie Delewski.

With 23:30 to go in the first half, after a Windham foul just inside its territory, Duncan put her cannon right leg on display.

Duncan lofted a drive into the box, where senior Delia Fravert couldn’t quite get to it, but the ball bounced, went over the head of Hartwell, hit the underside of the crossbar and rolled into the net for an improbable goal and a 2-0 advantage.

“I was trying to score,” Duncan said. “I was close enough and I said, ‘It’s going in.’ Anywhere past half field, I say go for it. That’s happened a couple times lately. The confusion of the ball in that perfect spot. Delia does a great job swarming the goal.”

“It’s been so great to have Josie on the team,” said Carlista. “She’s made such an impact as a freshman. She just shoots the ball and I have such confidence it’s going to go in.”

“It’s crazy because normally, you’d think a freshman would be super-nervous, but from summertime on, it’s like she’s been playing here for four years,” added Farley. “Most kids I’ve had couldn’t hit a ball like that. Even Lana wouldn’t shoot a ball with that kind of pace from anywhere but maybe 30 yards in. Josie can extend it 10 yards and get it under the bar with a driven ball. It’s not a floater. It’s a missile.”

After Harwell dove to save a Fravert blast and Hartwell saved a shot from senior Emma Blanchette off a corner serve from Fravert, Duncan lined up another free kick with 18:45 remaining in the first half, this time from 25-yards out on the left side.

Duncan struck that ball as well as any on the night, but it was just slightly high and hit the crossbar.

Windham still had life and got back in the contest.

After Talbot missed just wide and a free kick from senior Kyla Harvie was headed away, the Eagles broke through with 10:35 on the clock, as Delewski’s throw bounced off a defender right to Talbot, who dribbled in and fired a shot past Rinaldi inside the far post to make it 2-1.

After Hartwell saved a shot from junior Maya Taylor and Duncan sent a 20-yard free kick just high, Windham nearly tied the score with 57 seconds left, but freshman Emily Wardwell missed just high in the box.

Despite carrying play for the majority of the first half, Scarborough clung to a one-goal lead as the second half began.

Four minutes into the second half, senior Tayla Pelletier set up Talbot for a good look, but she missed just high.

With 27:19 remaining in regulation, Talbot crossed the ball from the right side and Rinaldi had to come out and tip it out of harm’s way.

With 17:10 to go, Talbot  managed a shot from 25-yards out, but Rinaldi made the save.

With 10:13 left, Red Storm senior captain and defender Megan Rumelhart broke up a Talbot rush.

Talbot got one final promising look 37 seconds later, eluding two defenders and finding some space, but Rinaldi calmly made the save.

“I was scared there, but I saw Sophia see where (Emily) was going to go and I was confident she’d stop that,” Farley said.

The Red Storm then put it away with 8:04 remaining after earning another free kick, a foul that Windham’s bench felt should have gone the other way.

Duncan, straight on from 35-yards out, again met the ball perfectly and ripped a shot that Hartwell, even though she leaped, couldn’t stop, and the ball sailed into the net for a 3-1 lead.

“I was kind of shocked,” Duncan said. “I kind of went for it and it just went in.”

“That goal was huge,” said Farley. “It took the pressure off and allowed us to get defensive.”

Windham had one last look, but a shot from junior Marley Jarvais went wide and at 8:41 p.m., Scarborough rushed the field to mob Rinaldi and celebrate its 3-1 victory.

“It’s an amazing outcome,” said Carlista. “We’ve been working so hard all year. From the beginning, we knew we could do it again, but after the Falmouth game, we picked it up. The first (Windham) win was important. We had a little edge on them, but we know they’re a good team. We just had to work hard. It was definitely tough in the second half. We knew we had to play good defense.”

“I told the kids that they had to earn it and I think they did that,” Farley said. “This team has overcome a lot. I’ve thrown so much at them and they’ve handled it so well. I couldn’t be more proud of them. The little things we did today made the difference in the game and made the win happen. We built our team offense around Lana last year and tried to get her in dangerous spots in the attacking third. This year, it’s changed. It doesn’t matter who scores. It’s driving balls into the other team, making them make mistakes and going forward. Instead of 32 goals from one person, we’re getting goals from everybody.”

Scarborough out-shot Windham, 9-5, on frame, got four saves from Rinaldi and took three corner kicks.

The Eagles got six saves from Hartwell and also had three corner kicks, but weren’t able to achieve the desired result.

“They’re fast and they’re well-coached,” said longtime Windham coach Deb LeBel, of the Red Storm. “We knew we could not foul on our side of the field. We knew it would bite us and that’s exactly what happened. We had a lot of momentum second half and that shifted everything.

“I have a very talented senior class. I’m proud of everything they’ve accomplished. This young group has done great too.”

A chance to make history

Scarborough has faced Bangor in the state final four times, winning three, including last year’s contest (2-0).

The Red Storm are 6-5 all-time in state games, but have never won three straight Gold Balls.

Now, Scarborough has that opportunity.

“We don’t need to change a thing,” Duncan said. “We just need to come together as a team and keep up our energy and our chemistry. I’m thrilled to play in a state game. There’s going to be a lot of adrenaline. I’m excited.”

“We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Carlista said. “Keep working hard. Keep passing. Teamwork will make it happen. We feel good about our chances.”

“This group knows they’re in a really good spot and they’re playing really well,” Farley added. “We’ll get prepared. It’s hard to win one, not to mention three. We’ll try to do our best in that game and see if we can get another one.”

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