December 23, 2024
SCHOOLBOY SOCCER

Yachtsmen sail to fourth straight state crown

BATH – Jimmy Velas knows no other way to conclude a high school soccer season.

Four years as a starter at Falmouth High School has produced four straight state championships, the last coming Saturday as the undefeated Yachtsmen overwhelmed Winslow 6-1 in the Class B final at McMann Field.

“Every year you go out looking to get a state championship,” said Velas, who plans to play at the Division I college level next fall. “To bring home four of them is awesome.”

How Falmouth matched the state schoolboy record with four consecutive titles (Class A Scarborough in 1973-76 and Class C Richmond in 1976-79) was equally impressive. The Yachtsmen scored five goals on seven shots over the first 37:21 of play, and the remainder of the contest was a coronation even the vanquished could appreciate.

“They just were that efficient,” said Winslow coach Mike Smith, whose 15-2-1 Black Raiders fell to Falmouth for the second straight year. “We saw them coming and they beat us to the ball and did a tremendous job, and once they got three [goals] it was kind of tough at that point.”

Winslow lost just 2-1 in last year’s final, and that relative proximity provided Falmouth additional motivation in the rematch.

“It was a close game last year, and they said they weren’t intimidated by us,” said Falmouth coach Dave Halligan. “We take a lot of pride in our program, and I don’t think the kids thought they were getting the respect they thought they deserved and they went out and let their play do the talking.”

Falmouth (17-0-1) tied the record for most goals in a state boys soccer final, matching Greely’s 6-0 win over Schenck in the 1974 Class B title match and North Yarmouth Academy’s 6-2 Class C win over George Stevens Academy last year.

Velas was the chief architect with two goals and two assists, most coming during a first-half blitz into the wind. “When you have a player like [Velas] on your team, everything’s so much easier,” said Halligan. “He is a team player. Today he was creating goals and scored a couple himself, but that’s the way he’s led the team since he’s been here.”

Velas gave the Yachtsmen a 1-0 lead 11:30 into the match, trapping a long serve from Thomas Starkey and left-footing it past Winslow goalie Erik Pendleton. Connor Hollowell headed in a Dan Forcella cross four minutes later, and Chris White scored on a rebound just 1:26 after that to extend the Falmouth lead to 3-0 with still 23:01 left until intermission.

Then Velas went back to work, executing a give-and-go to set up a goal by freshman Jordan Hale and later making an individual run through the Winslow defense for the final goal of the half and his 33rd of the season.

“Their ball skills at every position are superb,” Smith said. “We knew what they were going to do. They try to get the ball inside to Velas and he sprayed it out wide and they beat us back. You have to give those guys credit. They had their plays, we knew what they were going to do, and they executed.”

Hobson Bradford headed in a Velas corner kick early in the second half to push the lead to 6-0.

Winslow ended Falmouth’s shutout bid when Golf Pentong scored amid a scramble in the goal crease with 13:28 left.


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