NORTHPORT – Like the ladybugs that fluttered and floated around the field here, the Falmouth boys soccer team was also getting a lot of air – although not the kind the Yachtsmen wanted in Saturday morning’s Class B state championship game.

After booming the ball over and around the goal, Falmouth knew it would have to be a bit more composed and put the ball a little closer to the ground if it wanted to overcome a stellar defensive effort by Eastern Maine champion John Bapst of Bangor.

Patrick Halligan and Jeff Davis did just that, combining on the winning goal with 15:43 left in the second half to give the Yachtsmen their second straight state crown with a 1-0 victory over the Crusaders.

“We were playing a little rushed and a little scared, in a big game with a championship on the line,” said Halligan, Falmouth’s scoring leader (22 goals). “I guess we pulled it together at the end. … We’ve been playing together for so long and we’ve got a lot of team unity.”

That makes four state titles for Falmouth, which took Class C honors in 1996 and 1997.

“This one was the hardest but the most satisfying,” said 18-year coach David Halligan, who is Patrick Halligan’s father. “We played a good team and it was a battle back and forth.”

Patrick Halligan was one yard away from the end line and about five yards beyond the right post when he chipped the ball over to the left post. Davis (16 goals) was there and headed the cross past Bapst goalie Bill Chapman.

“I had no where to go so I had to chip it over the [Bapst defender],” Patrick Halligan said.

It was the best chance Falmouth had all day, thanks to Bapst sweeper Kyle Maynard and defenders Conrad Brown and Matt Jameson. Chapman stopped eight of 24 Falmouth shots.

“I knew offensively they had a lot of good finishers,” John Bapst coach Evan Frace said. “We just tried to mark real tight and keep on our men. The one time we didn’t it ended up being a goal but the defense was unbelievable.”

The Yachtsmen outshot the Crusaders 11-3 in the first half but Bapst’s defense and adjusting to Point Lookout’s artificial grass, which was wet from Friday’s rain, made it tough for Falmouth to finish its shots.

“Our timing was off,” David Halligan said. “We were playing some great balls but just a little bit out of reach, a little bit further than we would have liked. But we settled down in the second half. … [Davis’ goal] was composed and quick, but not rushed.”

Falmouth knew another thing about air – the Yachtsmen couldn’t let the taller Crusaders get too much of it. A big key for Falmouth was its ability to neutralize Bapst’s headers.

The Crusaders struggled to organize their offense and get the ball in transition. Zev Myerowitz had Bapst’s best chance 12 minutes into the game when he booted a shot at the goal, but the ball came right to Falmouth ‘keeper Zack Rand (four saves on five shots).

“We tried to mark up their dangerous players and withdraw our defense a little so that balls were coming towards us rather than chasing them back towards our goal,” David Halligan said. “They did what they had to do to stay in it. They’re a big, strong team and they did a great job.”