OAKLAND, Maine — Scarborough senior striker Lana Djuranovic’s penalty kick with 17:34 remaining in the game, her 32nd goal of the season, gave the Red Storm a 2-0 victory over Bangor in the State Class A schoolgirl soccer final at Messalonskee High School in Oakland on Saturday.
It is the second straight state title for the Red Storm.
Scarborough wound up 17-1 and Bangor ended up 16-2. It was Bangor’s first state game appearance since 2015.
There were few high-percentage scoring chances in the physical affair that was dominated by both defenses. Three yellow cards were handed out, two to Scarborough.
The two teams were limited to long-range chances that both goalies handled.
Bangor had allowed just 13 goals in its 17 games entering the contest and Scarborough had given up only eight.
Sophomore midfielder Maya Taylor sewed up the win with a beautical curling strike from 25 yards out that sailed into the upper corner to the left of Bangor junior goalie Eva Coombs, who had no chance on the perfectly-placed shot.
“It was off one of their defenders and it was set up perfectly right in front of me,” said Taylor. “It was a shot. I hoped it went in. I saw the drop on it.”
Scarborough’s Grace Carlista drew the foul in the penalty area that led to Djuranovic’s tie-breaking penalty kick as she raced on to a through ball down the left flank and cut to her right before being hauled down by a Ram defender.
It was one of the few times either side had a clean break-in..
“(Carlista) is very fast,” said Scarborough coach Mike Farley. “It was just the one transition ball. They didn’t clear it. It went right to our player (Delia Fravert), bang, first time through and (Carlista) got in behind.”
University of Miami-bound Djuranovic calmly placed her low penalty kick under the diving Eva Coombs.
“I always go right on my penalty kicks. It was really nerve-wracking,” said Djuranovic. “I’m just glad I got it in.”
Djuranovic attempted a game-high 11 shots and Coombs made five saves off her. Virtually all of them except her penalty kick were from long range.
The Rams did an impressive job defending the dynamic Djuranovic, getting numbers around her so she didn’t have much time and space on the ball.
“They did a good job with the defense. They had a game plan,” said Djuranovic.
“It was probably our toughest game the last few years,” said Taylor.
“Both teams are super solid defensively,” said Farley.
Scarborough, a 1-0 winner over Brunswick in last year’s double overtime state title game, was appearing in its fifth state title game in six seasons. Scarborough had lost to Camden Hills of Rockport in three consecutive state finals.
Sophia Rinaldi had eight saves on 11 Bangor shots and Coombs had 11 on 19 Scarborough attempts.
“It was a great battle. Two good teams that possess the ball well, that competed well,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “The penalty kick changed the momentum. It was the right call.
“It was just an even back-and-forth game between two competitive groups of young women,” Kemble added. “The reason these two teams are (regional) champions who are in this position is because they can defend all over the field.”
Scarborough’s back line featured Natalie Ryan, Maeve Davis, Avery Pettingill and Shay Charsky.
Bangor’s back line was comprised of Jo Jo Clukey, Avery Clark, J.J. Williams and Mimi Quinn.
“It was very evenly-matched,” said Bangor junior midfielder and leading scorer Teagan Atherley. ”In the end, they finished. They scored two beautiful goals.”
University of Maine-bound senior midfielder Olivia Scott said Scarborough had a lot of skillful players but her team played “great” and gave it all they had.
“The balls went in the net for them and not for us,” said Scott. “I’m proud of this team.”
Scott and Atherley each had four shots.
Bangor’s best scoring chance came off an Ani Roberts corner in the second half that bounced around in the penalty area. But the Rams couldn’t get to it before it was cleared away.
This story was updated to correct the final score