Scarborough girls soccer pulls away to take down Thornton Academy
Scarborough Girls’ Soccer Team Advances to Class A South Semifinals with 5‑1 Win
Scarborough, ME — The Scarborough Red Storm girls’ soccer team secured a decisive 5‑1 victory over the Thornton Academy Golden Trojans on Tuesday night in a Class A South quarterfinal, advancing to the state‑semifinal bracket. The game was played at Scarborough’s home field, and the Red Storm entered the match with a flawless 14‑0‑1 record, now moving into the top four of the state tournament.
The Red Storm’s first goal came early. Freshman Wren Bodah capitalized on a corner kick from Josie Duncan, giving Scarborough a 1‑0 lead just 5 minutes and 27 seconds in. Just over two minutes later, the Trojans tied the match when Julia Collins’ pass was deflected by Duncan into the net—an unintentional own‑goal that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
After the draw, Scarborough pulled ahead again. Sophomore Maya Casey, who had spent most of the season recovering from a hip flexor strain, broke through a defender’s tight angle and fired a shot from near the left corner. The ball slotted into the left post with 16:16 remaining in the first half, sparking a flurry of offense. Casey remarked, “I was really surprised. I was looking near post, but I wasn’t expecting it to go in. I really just wanted to take a leap of faith and put it out there. … I just wanted to be risky this time.”
The Red Storm kept the momentum, adding three more goals in the second half. Hayley Meehan netted a quick finish with 10:37 left in the first half, Scarlett Floyd scored late in the third period at 37:51 remaining, and Maggie Booth capped the night with a 7:34‑to‑play strike. The final tally of shots was 20 for Scarborough to 4 for Thornton, a reflection of the team’s dominance on the field.
“The team definitely has faith in everyone,” Booth said after the game. “Everyone steps up. We don’t just rely on one girl.”
Thornton, already battling injuries, lost their starting center back Jacey Springer to illness and center midfielder Charlotte Beane to an early‑game injury. They also suffered the loss of keeper Adeline Polletta, who was hurt diving after Casey’s goal. Despite the challenges, senior goalkeeper Madison Tripp made an impressive 11 saves, a performance praised by Trojans coach Ellie Agreste. “Maddie came in, she’s a senior, she stepped up,” Agreste said. “She was a field player last year. … She got a friend to train her after practice throughout the season. She was ready for this moment.”
Scarborough coach Craig Roberts, who led the team to an undefeated season, noted the youthful energy that carried the team through the playoffs. “We have a lot of girls that don’t have playoff experience, don’t have varsity experience,” Roberts said. “I thought we had a really even temperament. Even after they scored, we didn’t panic, we didn’t get frustrated.”
Statistical leaders for Scarborough included Wren Bodah, Maya Casey, Hayley Meehan, Scarlett Floyd, and Maggie Booth—all scoring one goal apiece. Josie Duncan and Jill Morris combined for four assists, while keeper Vera DiSotto made three saves. For Thornton, Madison Tripp recorded 11 saves while Adeline Polletta made four.
With the quarterfinal victory, Scarborough now prepares to face the winner of the other South quarterfinal match in the semifinals, while Thornton will look to regroup for the next round of the tournament. The Red Storm’s strong performance and the resilience of their younger players continue to fuel optimism as the state championship approaches.
