Yarmouth tips Eagles with last-minute goal

NORTHPORT – The Ellsworth boys soccer team has played stellar defense this year, and did so again for most of Saturday’s Class B state championship game against Yarmouth.

But just as it looked like the Eagles were going to take the hard-charging Clippers to overtime, Justin Morrill’s game-winning goal with 51.3 seconds left in the second half boosted Yarmouth to a 1-0 victory and the program’s first state crown since 1997.

The Clippers, who lost their final two games of the regular season, finished 15-2-1.

“This year was our time. We just wanted to be here so badly,” Yarmouth senior sweeper Will Seretta said. “It’s a great way to end senior year. Every game we played like we had everything on the line.”

The Eagles, who were trying for their first state title since 1993, wrapped up their season at 14-2-2.

Ellsworth defenders like senior sweeper Andy Berry, Jesse Abbott, Jake Kane, who marked striker Morrill, Alex Wentworth, and Evan Beal did their best to keep Yarmouth’s front line from getting too close.

Ellsworth goalie Cory Smith was still forced to make several excellent saves and likely faced a tougher test than he had all season. Smith stopped nine of 18 shots.

“Today, really, the backs had to do their job and keep us in the game,” Ellsworth coach Brian Higgins said. “We bent and bent and bent but didn’t break until 51 seconds left. … I’m pleased for the kids. They worked hard and they’re a good group.”

Yarmouth coach Mike Hagerty said the Clippers had designed a strategy with Ellsworth’s defense in mind.

“We preached all week, get the ball outside, because we know their sweeper is very good in the middle, very strong,” he said. “Every time we went in the middle he turned it away. We had to get the balls in the corner and then cross.”

Hagerty didn’t see the winning goal – he was busy reprimanding a player who had committed a foul in the backfield – but Morrill’s goal started with teammate Pat Delaney’s run down the right side of the field. Delaney kicked the ball just in front of the goal and it bounced off an Ellsworth defender to Morrill, who had only to kick it into the left side of the net.

“It was just a matter of time before we put one in the net, because we were really putting pressure on them,” Morrill said.

Yarmouth’s defense made itself part of the equation, too. Ellsworth forwards Jensen Rich and Demetrious Katsiaficas had a flurry with three minutes left, but the Eagles managed just eight shots. Yarmouth goalie Kevin Leahy made six saves.

Stopper Nick Runyan marked Rich, who led Ellsworth with 20 goals this year.

“My main goal was pretty much to try to get as much depth as I could so any ball that went over the top I could get it out before they had a chance to get to it,” Seretta said. “That was our strategy, to not get too flat and not let them beat us. I think that was one of our best defensive games all year.”