Penalty kicks bring pressure, mind games for Maine girls soccer teams
Scarborough Red Storm Clinch Class A South Girls Soccer Title in Dramatic Penalty Shootout
Falmouth, Maine – On a cool November 4, the Scarborough Red Storm secured a 2‑1 victory over the Windham Eagles in the Class A South girls soccer championship. The match, played at the Falmouth Soccer Complex, was decided by a tense penalty shootout in which Scarborough’s goalkeeper, Vera DiSotto, made two crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet and seal the title.
The game was a tightly contested affair. Scarborough opened the scoring in the first half, with a well‑executed pass from senior midfielder Maggie Booth finding the back of the net. Windham responded before halftime, leveling the score and setting up a dramatic finish. When the clock struck 90 minutes, the score remained 1‑1, and the match proceeded to a penalty shootout.
Windham’s first taker, Mackenzie Delewski, stepped up but was denied by DiSotto, who dove to the left. The Red Storm answered with a successful shot from junior back Josie Duncan. The sequence continued until the final penalty, where DiSotto again out‑played the shooter, securing the win for Scarborough. The 2‑1 shootout tally reflects the two successful kicks for Scarborough and one for Windham in the decisive round.
“We’re a team that strives off of winning,” said Junior back Josie Duncan. “No matter who was going to take the PK, whether it was the first shot or in round 10, that person was going to make it. There’s no pressure on anyone. It’s all about taking a deep breath and relaxing.”
Senior midfielder Maggie Booth, who played a pivotal role in the regulation portion of the match, described the emotional intensity: “There’s a lot of nerves. I know for me, last year, there was a lot of nerves,” she said. “But our team is so close that no one was going to pin (blame) on someone who missed.”
DiSotto, who posted ten shutouts during the regular season, attributed her composure to a focus on the shooter’s body language. “I’m just trying to stay calm, because you can lose a lot of your technique in the moment,” she said. “If you get stressed, your dives are really bad. I can tell (a kick) sometimes by the hip position. Some girls try to snake‑eye you, they look one way and try to go the other.”
The victory marks Scarborough’s fifth consecutive Class A South title and adds to the program’s recent history of success. The team won state championships in 2022 and 2023 and has claimed regional crowns in each of the past four seasons, underscoring the depth of talent and continuity in the program.
Windham coach Deb Lebel, a biology teacher and holder of a master’s degree in sports psychology, has long emphasized the mental side of penalty kicks. “We do it just so we can tell them, ‘Listen, you’ve done this so many times,’” she said. “The shot doesn’t have to be a rocket. Just shoot to the corner. Just place it.” She noted that the pressure on goalkeepers can be intense, but that a single save often tips the balance. “You just have to save one. Typically, if you save one, you’re likely going to win.”
The championship match highlights a broader trend in Maine high‑school soccer, where penalties have become a frequent decider. Last season’s state tournament featured multiple shootouts, and even international competition has seen players self‑substitute during penalties, illustrating that the mental challenge is universal.
Mike Herrick, coach of the Skowhegan River Hawks, also reflected on the importance of attitude in high‑stakes moments. “You have to have somebody, and I mean this in the
