South Portland and Windham girls soccer battle to draw
South Portland’s girls soccer program has quietly turned its fortunes around, earning a respectable 1‑1 draw against a top‑ranked Windham squad on Thursday night at Windham’s home field. The Red Riots, led by sophomore striker Sasha Neff and junior goalkeeper Maizie Savage, held their ground against the Eagles, who are currently ranked No. 4 in the Varsity Maine Top‑10 poll and boast a 7‑1‑1 record.
The match, which saw South Portland finish with a 6‑1‑2 record for the season, was a testament to the team’s progress over the last year. A year earlier, the Red Riots were 3‑9‑2 and finished 14th in the Heal Point standings. This season they’ve climbed to eighth in the state poll and secured wins over strong opponents such as Gorham and Thornton Academy.
Neff, who has made a name for herself with a fast, balanced style and sharp shooting, scored the only goal of the game in the second half with 20:08 left on the clock. After collecting the ball near midfield, she burst down the left side, out‑moved three Windham defenders, cut to the center, and struck a shot past Windham’s goalkeeper Jennifer Schwarz. “I think we’re a top contender,” Neff told reporters after the match. “Windham beat us 6‑1 last year, so we’re bouncing back from that. It just shows we have grit. We can hang in there. We go down and we come back up and tie. We have the ability to do it.” She added that the team’s recent “factory reset” under a new coaching staff has helped them develop a positive mentality.
South Portland’s new head coach, Jarrod Carnrick, entered his first season with the Red Riots after coaching St. Dominic Academy’s girls team and Poland Boys in the past. He says the team has gelled well under his guidance. “We have a pretty young squad,” Carnrick noted, “but the players’ attitude and willingness to improve are outstanding.” The team’s defensive backbone consists of a back four that includes sisters Reese and Charlie Savage, as well as Rylin Small, Claire Phillips, and Lauren Way. The trio’s physical presence and organization made it difficult for Windham’s attackers to create clear scoring chances.
In the other half of the field, Windham’s offense was more active. The Eagles took an early lead with a well‑placed diagonal free kick from Isabella Vassoler, assisted by Delani Momot, at 28:37 of the second half. Windham’s coach, Deb Lebel, acknowledged the Red Riots’ competitiveness, saying, “We knew South Portland was going to be a great, competitive team. We also have to finish our corners.” Windham’s statistics reflected their control of the game: 12 shots, 7 on goal, and 15 corner kicks to South Portland’s 7 shots, 3 on goal, and just one corner.
The defensive duel was highlighted by Savage’s two saves in the final minutes, including a crucial stop in the closing seconds that preserved the draw. She finished the game with six saves overall, showing a sharp reflexes and calm composure under pressure.
Statistically, the match was uneven in favor of Windham. The Eagles generated twice as many shots and controlled more of the ball, but South Portland’s disciplined defense and the Red Riots’ ability to capitalize on a single scoring opportunity proved sufficient to keep the game level.
The result is a significant morale boost for a team that has rebuilt itself over the past season. South Portland’s record of 6‑1‑2 places them firmly in contention for the state playoffs, while Windham’s performance continues to assert their status as a regional powerhouse. For the Red Riots, the draw confirms their upward trajectory and suggests that the team’s new structure and coaching staff are paying off.
