WINDHAM — There wasn’t much to complain about. And the Windham girls soccer team wasn’t about to get picky.
Neve Ledbetter, Marley Jarvais and Mackenzie Delewski scored, and the Eagles also benefited from an own goal in a 4-0 win Wednesday night against rival Gorham.
Windham (4-2-1) struck early, putting a goal on the board just over 16 minutes in and notching three by halftime. The Eagles dominated possession and opportunities against another perennial Class A power – a team Windham has faced in four of the last five postseasons.
“We played very well and I think this shows who we are as a team,” said Ledbetter, a senior forward. “It’s hard to come out here and play your best 24/7, but today I feel like we really showed it.”
It was a performance the Eagles were waiting for, but also one they felt was on its way.
“(That was) the best game we’ve strung together, a full 80 minutes,” coach Deb Lebel said. “It did feel good that our kids are starting to do some of the things that we’re asking of them. … Believe in your teammates because we do have a lot of young kids.”
How it happened
• In the 16th minute, Jarvais booted a corner kick toward the right post from the right side, and Ledbetter swooped in to tap the ball toward the net. It deflected off a Gorham defender and in to make it 1-0.
• Jarvais increased the lead to 2-0 with 4:54 left in the half, shaking off two defenders and then firing a shot that sailed into the top right corner.
• Moments later, Delewski fended off defenders to gain the ball in the penalty area, then fired into the net for a 3-0 lead.
• Freshman Logan Curry set up the final goal, hitting a cross from the left side while falling to the ground. The ball found Ledbetter, who redirected it into the goal with 15:49 to go.
Highlight reel
• The goal by Jarvais was a brilliant individual effort. She outdueled two defenders to keep the ball, then hit a bending left-footed shot from 20 yards that sailed indefensibly into the top corner.
“I know I’m stronger on my left, so I like to cut in on the right side and use my left. It just was in favor for me,” she said. “Once it leaves the foot, you know it’s going to go in. … It’s kind of a cool feeling.”
Notable quotes
• “We talked at halftime about (how) we had the middle. They just bring so many people forward that then once we had the middle, we just started to panic a little bit, rather than take the time and space that we had.” — Gorham coach Jeanne Zarrilli
• “(I told the team) we’re not going to finish in the top four (in the Heal point standings), so let that monkey get off your back. What we need to (do) is grow as a team and be that team that can travel and be able to play somebody on turf, teams that are fast, teams that can challenge us.” — Zarrilli
• “It’s always a physical match. We’ve always gone into either double overtime or PKs with them in playoffs. … (This shows) we’re a good team, we can play up to their level.” — Jarvais, on matchups with Gorham
• “We have been playing together for four years. We really kind of have that twin telepathy sometimes.” — Ledbetter, on the timing with Jarvais on the first goal