South Portland girls soccer makes program history with playoff win

South Portland Girls Soccer Make History in Epic Overtime Thriller

South Portland, Maine – In a night that will go down in school lore, the South Portland High School girls’ soccer team, the Red Riots, stunned Bonny Eagle with a 1‑0 victory after two dramatic overtimes in the Class A South quarterfinal on Tuesday, October 27. The only goal, a header from Charlie Savage, came with 7 minutes 19 seconds left in the second overtime, capping a 21‑minute 41‑second battle of nerves and endurance.

The game, played on a turf that slanted sharply along the sidelines, ended 0‑0 after regulation. The two teams had been evenly matched all season, with the Red Riots’ 11‑2‑2 record pitted against Bonny Eagle’s 9‑4‑3. The win marks South Portland’s first regional quarterfinal victory in girls’ soccer since the program’s inception in 1987.

A Team Effort That Paid Off

The first overtime was a roller‑coaster. South Portland’s left‑winger Violet Wedick sparked a barrage of seven shots, forcing Bonny Eagle’s goalkeeper Keona Ingram into four saves and a crucial block by defender Charlotte Beaulieu. In the closing seconds of the first overtime, Bonny Eagle’s Taytum Lauziere struck a left‑footed corner that flirted with the crossbar, nearly sending the match into a shootout.

With the clock ticking into the second overtime, the Red Riots kept pressing. Maci Rauscher delivered a sharp corner to the near post. As Wedick’s ball sailed toward the goal, Ingram tipped it over, but the ball found its way to the feet of Charlie Savage. The midfielder, who rarely scores, launched a header that found the back of the net, giving South Portland a 1‑0 advantage and ending the match before the penalty shootout could begin.

“It was definitely something we were working for and we knew this was a winnable game and we would make school history doing it,” Savage told reporters after the game. “In that instant, with seven minutes left in the second overtime, we knew we didn’t want to go into penalty kicks. We were putting everything on the line. It was whoever gets to it.”

Savage’s goal was the culmination of a season that has seen the Red Riots rise from a 3‑9‑2 record in 2025 to a 11‑2‑2 finish, tying the 2004 squad for the most wins in a season. The team’s roster features a unique trio of sisters: Charlie, goalkeeper Maizie Savage, and right‑back Reese Savage, all starting together in the historic match.

Coaches Speak

South Portland’s first‑year head coach, Jarrod Carnick, praised the team’s resilience. “She does so much work at both ends of the field, defensively breaking up plays and starting counterattacks, (and) keeping possession in the attacking third,” he said. “It really doesn’t surprise me that she pops in and bags the goal in the last moment.”

Bonny Eagle coach Michelle Riesbeck, meanwhile, commended her players’ effort. “Both teams were incredible tonight. My girls gave me everything and that’s all I could ask for,” she said.

Next Up: Scarborough

South Portland now faces No. 1 Scarborough, the four‑time defending regional champion and the team that beat the Red Riots 2‑1 in the regular season. Scarborough’s 14‑0‑1 record underscores a dominant season, and the Red Riots will need to summon the same grit that saw them through double overtime.

Bonny Eagle, the No. 5 seed, will look to rebound after the loss. They entered the quarterfinals having improved by four wins this season, including a 1‑0 preliminary‑round win over No. 12 Portland.

Field Conditions and Play

The match was played on a field notorious for its steep side slopes and uneven grass. In the final 15 minutes of regulation, Bonny Eagle’s cleaner passing style seemed to give them an advantage, but the rough surface made it difficult to sustain pressure. South Portland’s defensive organization, led by goalkeeper Maizie Savage’s five saves and a strong defensive line, kept the score tied through 90 minutes.

The two teams had not scored against each other for 192 minutes 41 seconds before Savage’s header, a testament to the stalwart defenses and evenly matched offenses.

Celebration

The Red Riots’ celebration in the stands was electric. Players and coaches swarmed the field, and the cheers from the crowd echoed the moment the game finally decided itself. The win not only added a chapter to South Portland’s history but also set the stage for a thrilling matchup against a powerhouse in Scarborough.

As the season progresses, the Red Riots have proven that perseverance and teamwork can turn the tide even in the most exhausting of contests. Whether they can carry this momentum into the regional championship remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: South Portland girls’ soccer has a story that will be told for years to come.