Lee repeats as champ Slevinsky, Gifford score goals in Pandas victory

HAMPDEN – Sometimes, soccer goals are the result of a series of crisp passes or a strong individual effort.

Other times, it can be the simple matter of being in the right place at the right time, something to which Lee Academy senior Nicole Slevinsky can relate.

For the second time in two games, Slevinsky capitalized on a loose ball near the opposition’s net as the Pandas defeated Richmond 2-1 in Saturday’s Class D girls state championship at the Weatherbee Field complex. The win was Lee’s second straight state championship.

Slevinsky, who spent most of the season on defense, also headed home a goal early in Lee’s 4-0 Eastern Maine win over Van Buren on Oct. 27.

“That was awesome,” first-year Lee Academy coach Stephanie Thurlow said of Slevinsky’s goal. “Sometimes you think you have [everyone] in the right place at the right time. This time, she was just there.”

The play started when Lee’s Morgan McGaw threaded a pass to teammate Aarika Ritchie, who then had her kick slowed by Richmond goalie Nicole Tuttle. The ball rolled away from Tuttle and toward Slevinsky at the opposite goalpost.

“I think Aarika passed the ball,” Slevinsky said. “I kicked it and it hit off the goalpost. I walked it in from there.”

After Slevinsky’s goal gave Lee a 1-0 lead with 18:18 left in the first half, the Pandas took a 2-0 lead when a leaping Amanda Gifford headed in a Ritchie corner kick with 7:07 left in the opening period.

“We seemed a little bit out of sync today,” Richmond coach Troy Kendrick said. “They’re athletic and quick. They were tough in the back.”

The Bobcats, making their first appearance in a state game since winning the Class D title in 2001 over Lee, suffered a tough blow when sophomore Shelby Hurley (24 goals) was injured with 1:04 left in the first half in a collision with Lee’s Kimmy Thurlow near midfield.

“She’s our leading scorer,” Kendrick said of Hurley. “You don’t have someone sitting on the bench to replace 20 goals. It kind of put a hole in our attack.”

Lee continued to apply offensive pressure in the second half, with Tuttle keeping Richmond in the game by making 10 saves, including a point-blank save on a Gifford breakaway with about 17 minutes left to keep the game at 2-0.

With about 20 minutes to go, Kendrick opted to play with four forwards to try and generate some extra offense and the Bobcats ended Lee’s shutout bid with 1:27 left. Amy Russell converted a Katie Cray cross and beat Lee goalie Karin Bird to the near side. It was the first goal Lee allowed in 309 minutes, 57 seconds of playoff soccer.

“It paid off,” Kendrick said of the strategy. “Unfortunately, there was only a minute and a half left.”

The 15-2 Bobcats were unable to tie it, allowing the Pandas to celebrate a third state championship in four years.

“It’s awesome,” Slevinsky said. “I love feeling like this going out.”

Bird finished with 11 saves, twice corralling loose balls near the goal line, to help Lee finish 16-2. Bird became the starting goalie when senior Amy Lane injured her hand during an early-season loss to Bangor Christian.

“It worked out for us,” Stephanie Thurlow said.

Lee held a 21-13 edge in shots and were able to take advantage of Hampden’s artificial surface, according to Stephanie Thurlow.

“For us, it worked out,” the coach said. “Gifford, Aarika are so fast. The turf definitely has an advantage for faster kids.”