BANGOR, Maine — Jordan Pellerin isn’t the tallest soccer player around — but heading the ball into the net from the middle of the goal box isn’t all about height.
“It’s pretty much all about timing,” said the 5-foot-6 junior striker, who scored twice on headers Saturday as the defending Class A state champions edged Bangor 2-1 in an Eastern Maine semifinal.
The goals were the 50th and 51st of the season for Pellerin, whose game-winner with 5:51 left in the match broke the school record of 50 set by Debbie Cormier, who led the Purple Panthers to four straight state titles from 1980 to 1983.
“My main concern about [Pellerin] was her scoring with her head,” said Bangor coach Joe Johnson. “She did it twice, and that’s probably the fifth or sixth time I’ve seen her do it over the years. She certainly has a knack for going after the ball.”
The win advances No. 3 Waterville (14-1-1) to Wednesday’s EM final at No. 1 Brunswick. No. 2 Bangor, which split two regular-season matches with Waterville, finishes 13-2-1.
Both of Pellerin’s goals were set up by long free kicks from the right wing by teammate Kylee Gardiner.
“Kylee’s been taking our corner kicks and directs for two years now, and you can see why,” said Waterville coach Ian Wilson. “She’s able to place it well and with pace, and Jordan does a really good job of timing them.”
Pellerin gave Waterville its first lead with 31:36 left in the second half. Gardiner lofted a free kick from about 35 yards away toward the crease, and Pellerin — running toward the net from the 18-yard line – found enough space to head an uncontested shot inside the near goal post.
“I try not to hit it at the goalie, and I try to hit it in between the 18 and the 6, that’s the perfect spot to hit it,” said Gardiner. “Jordan and I pretty much know where it’s going to go.”
Bangor countered barely three minutes later, with Jade Baumrind racing to the far post to redirect a crossing pass along the right wing by Ashley Robinson.
Waterville regained the lead after being awarded a free kick from deep in the right corner. Gardiner lofted the ball toward the crease, and after initially running toward the near post Pellerin adjusted and again found open space to head the ball into the left side of the goal with 5:51 left.
“Kylee’s kicks are amazing, they go really far, so sometimes I go in too fast and then have to adjust,” said Pellerin. “We stay outside the 18 so there’s space in there and we just run to the ball, rather than have them all over us inside the 18.”
Waterville outshot Bangor 9-5. Cara Rousseau made three saves for Waterville, while Mia Smith made four stops for Bangor.
“I thought we played very well,” said Johnson. “We certainly played with a lot of passion, and I thought we played the ball pretty well. It was a pretty even game as far as the ball control on the field goes. Sometimes you just don’t score enough.”
