Scarborough girls soccer scrapes past South Portland
Scarborough Red Storm edge South Portland 2‑1 in Class A South girls’ soccer showdown
Scarborough, Oct. 8 – In a tightly contested Class A South match, the Scarborough Red Storm pulled ahead of the South Portland Red Riots with a 2‑1 victory at the Scarborough Field. The win keeps the four‑time defending state champion on a roll, moving them to an impressive 10‑0‑1 record on the season.
The game’s most dramatic moment came in the second half. After the first period, the Red Riots were down 1‑0, but a swift counter‑attack saw sophomore Sasha Neff net a tying goal. The roar from the sidelines was short‑lived. Only 14 seconds later, junior forward Molly Igneri struck again to give Scarborough the lead. “We know South Portland is a good team,” Igneri said after the match. “We know we’re gonna get the next goal.” The rapid turnaround underscored how momentum can swing almost instantly in soccer.
Scarborough’s opener came early in the second half. Forward Abby Roberts found the back of the net less than four minutes after the restart, securing the Red Storm’s advantage. Roberts admitted she has not been shooting well lately but felt the confidence boost of her goal: “It really helped with my confidence, and I’m just lucky to be at the right place at the right time.” With a 2‑0 lead, the Red Storm ran a disciplined defense, keeping the Red Riots from finding the net again.
The first half was quiet for Scarborough, who held South Portland – who were 7‑2‑2 on the season – to just one shot. The defensive effort was praised by back Amarine Laine, who said the halftime talk helped focus the team on new runs and maintaining clear minds: “We talked about what we need to work better on, playing different runs, keeping our minds cleared, focusing on what we have to do.”
South Portland’s goalkeeper Maizie Savage made six saves, the most on the field, and stood out for her resilience. Rylin Small also played a key role, thwarting several runs that could have opened up scoring chances for the Red Storm.
Scarborough’s goalkeeper, Vera DiSotto, posted three saves, helping keep the game within reach during the final 15 minutes. Assist credits went to Gwen Martin and Scarlett Floyd for their contributions to the Red Storm’s offensive play.
The match was highlighted by the Red Storm’s ability to capitalize on limited opportunities. Molly Igneri reflected on the team’s preparation: “Sooner or later, those shots are going to go in,” she said. “We just worked really hard as a team to make it happen.”
With the win, Scarborough maintains its position as the top‑seeded team in the State Top 10, ranking No. 2 in the Varsity Maine poll. The Red Storm look forward to the next game in the Class A South schedule, while South Portland will regroup after a hard‑fought effort that saw them keep the score close until the final whistle.
