Camden Hills girls soccer rolls to A North crown
Camden Hills Girls Soccer Clinch Class A North Title, 5‑1 Over Mt. Ararat
Topsham, Nov. 3 – Camden Hills High School’s girls soccer team, the Windjammers, capped a flawless 17‑0 season by defeating the No. 2‑seeded Mt. Ararat Eagles 5‑1 in the Class A North final at Mt. Ararat High School. The win, earned in a match that saw the Windjammers score three goals in the first 15 minutes, ends the program’s absence from a state championship game, the last of which was in 2019.
The victory sets up a state‑final showdown on Saturday at Kennebunk High against the South champion Scarborough Red Storm, who advanced after a 3‑1 win over Kennebunk. Both teams remain undefeated, with Scarborough holding a 15‑0‑1 record.
A Dominant First Half
From the opening whistle, Camden Hills controlled the tempo and possession. The Windjammers outshot the Eagles 7‑0 in the first half and were never out of the frame. They built a 3‑0 cushion with 24 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the first half, and that lead expanded to 5‑1 before the game even reached halftime.
Junior forward Molly Williams, who finished the match with four goals, was the primary engine of the Windjammers’ attack. “It feels amazing, I’m so, so happy about it,” Williams told reporters after the game. The forward, who tallied 50 goals in the season and 11 in the playoffs, added, “With teammates like that, it’s easy to put the ball in the back of the net.” Eve Domareki also contributed a first‑half goal.
Williams’ performance was highlighted by her coach, Meredith Messer, who praised the player’s speed and vision. “What she can do, better than any kid I’ve coached, is the ability to get herself square and can see the field faster than any kid, and it gives her an advantage,” Messer said. She also credited strength and conditioning coach Wade Ward for improving the team’s speed and overall health.
Mt. Ararat’s Late Rally
Mt. Ararat, which finished the regular season 12‑5, made a brief push in the second half. Lyla Peters scored early, cutting the deficit to 3‑1. The Eagles also had a penalty opportunity in the final 27 minutes, but goalkeeper Charley Hall made a diving save on a shot from Katherine Therriault. Morgan Crawford, Mt. Ararat’s goalie, recorded nine saves on 15 shots. Despite the rally, the Eagles could not find a second goal, and the match ended 5‑1 in favor of the Windjammers.
Legacy and Future
Camden Hills had dominated the Class A state scene from 2016 to 2019, winning four straight titles. The recent victory marks the team’s return to a championship game after a three‑year drought. The Windjammers will travel to Kennebunk High on Saturday, where they will face the South’s undefeated Scarborough Red Storm. The Red Storm, under the guidance of their own coaching staff, will look to extend their own streak of state finals.
Coach Kevin Flaherty of Mt. Ararat reflected on his team’s progress, saying, “They’re just tough kids who really enjoy working hard and playing for each other. I couldn’t be any more proud of them and happy for our program going forward.” Flaherty, who has been at Mt. Ararat for four years, noted the team’s consistency in reaching the semifinals over the past three seasons.
In a preseason encounter earlier in the season, Camden Hills faced Scarborough, with Coach Messer noting, “They’re probably a little bit bigger than we are, but for us it’s just having confidence in ourselves and confidence in each other.”
The Windjammers’ performance in the Class A North final is a testament to their depth, speed, and teamwork. Their 17‑0 record showcases a season of consistency and dominance, and the upcoming state final will be the ultimate test of their mettle. As both teams prepare to play for the state title, the spotlight will again fall on the girls who have kept Maine’s high‑school soccer scene vibrant and competitive.
