Defense-minded GSA shuts out Searsport 1-0

SEARSPORT – Even before halftime in Wednesday’s Eastern Maine Class C girls soccer semifinal game, it was apparent which team was in control.

Sure, it was a scoreless game and Searsport’s Vikings had beaten and tied visiting George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill in their last two meetings, but there was a reason GSA coach Steve Bemiss could barely conceal a slight smile.

It was a defensive struggle and it was tied – just the way the Eagles like it.

“There are no style points in soccer. We play defense,” said Bemiss. “If you’re holding the other team scoreless, all you need is one to win.”

The Eagles got their “one” with 23 minutes and 53 seconds left in the game from Sadie Beardsworth and kept the top-seeded Vikings off the scoreboard for a 1-0 upset on a brisk and breezy afternoon.

The 8-5-3 Eagles travel to play No. 2 Madawaska (10-3-3) Saturday for the East regional championship. Searsport finishes up 13-2-1.

The Vikings weren’t overly concerned after being outshot 8-4 in the first half. All they needed was one chance, one opening of which to take advantage.

When they got it, Beardsworth was in the right place at the right time, on the right side – to be exact – when teammate Brandi Winters crossed the ball over from the right wing to the 18 [top of the penalty area]. Beardsworth took the pass and shot from the right side of the net, where goalie April Pickering was stationed, to the far left corner for the goal.

“I just had one-touch on it and put it in far post. Coach always says go far post,” Beardsworth said.

“We’ve been practicing that wing play a lot and it just paid off in this game… Paid off very well,” said Winters.

Searsport outshot the Eagles 12-8, but it was the tally on the scoreboard that was the only thing concerning GSA.

“That’s George Stevens soccer. We knew they’d be happy to play great defense all day long and win 1-0,” said Searsport coach Mike Garcelon. “We watched them work their way up the standings this year and we knew if we didn’t get after them early, they’d be tough to beat.”

The two key players in GSA’s upset effort were freshman goalie April Pickering, who made 10 saves, and junior defensive specialist Chelsea Duddy, who stuck to Vikings scoring machine Nori Francis-Mezger like Super Glue.

“Since we put Chelsea on her, she hasn’t scored for the last 31/2 halves against us,” said Bemiss.

Francis-Mezger had to leave the game with six minutes left. The junior scorer suffered a leg injury after getting tangled up with a defender while battling for a loose ball.

Searsport junior goalie April Pickering made seven saves on eight shots.

To say the young Eagles – who had four freshmen on the field at the same time more than once Wednesday – have come a long way would be understating the obvious.

“This team was in 11th place when the next-to-last Heals came out and now we’re playing in the next-to-last game,” said Bemiss.