Sophomore striker Georgie Stephenson scored the game-winning and insurance goals in Bangor High School’s 3-1 win over Scarborough in the State Class A schoolgirl soccer championship game a year ago.
And she came through again on Saturday.
Stephenson’s 36th goal of the season in the first half, plus a strong team defensive performance, gave the Rams a second straight state A title by virtue of a 1-0 victory over Scarborough in this year’s Class A final at Messalonskee High School in Oakland.
It was the third consecutive season Bangor and Scarborough met in the A final with Scarborough capturing the 2023 title, 2-0.
Bangor concluded a 16-1-1 campaign and the shutout was Bangor’s 11th of the season.
Scarborough had its 14-game winning streak snapped and wound up at 16-2. It was just the second time Scarborough had been shut out this season.
Bangor goalie Emily Caulkins made three saves while counterpart Vera DiSotto finished with six stops.
Class A North Player of the Year Clara Oldenburg set up Stephenson’s game-winner.
“Clara ran down the right side and crossed it to Georgie, who finished it off,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble, noting that Stephenson was within five yards of the goal.
He said Oldenburg and Stephenson, who was chosen to the Class A North first team, are both “natural scorers.”
Kemble pointed out that they are different types of players with Oldenburg being more of a “visual player” in that she sees the whole field and can set up goals and score them while Stephenson is a fast, tenacious and skilled striker who outworks opponents for balls and is a pure finisher.
The Rams allowed just one goal in their four playoff contests.
“That’s a great run,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “In order to win championships, you have to be able to defend.”
He said his team turned in an exceptional defensive performance.
“It was incredible seeing them communicate in the back. That’s just as important as how they play,” said Kemble, who called the championship matchup “our most physical game of the year.”
In the second half, he had midfielders Gabby Gordon, Kyelin Atherley and Callen Pooler drop back into more defensive roles to support the back line of Avery Gordon, Sophia Chase and Jo Jo Clukey along with Gabby Spreng, Ainsley Goodwin and Quinn Andrews.
Midfielder/wing Gabby Roy also saw some playing time in the back.