Scarborough’s Denver Bachman kisses the Gold Ball after the Red Storm beat Brunswick 2-1 to win the Class A boys soccer title on Saturday in Oakland. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
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OAKLAND — Scarborough boys soccer coach Mark Diaz has been telling Denver Bachman all season long about making a play on a near-post run.
In the 78th minute of the Class A championship game Saturday against Brunswick, the senior striker finally got his chance.
“He’s been on me about it, rightfully so,” Bachman said. “Because, obviously, when it happens, you score a game-winner in the state final.”
Playing with a one-man advantage in a 1-1 tie game, Scarborough’s Brady Moreau sent a left-to-right cross to push Trevor Atwood up the field. The junior striker gathered the pass and sent a roller towards the left post, when Bachman swooped in and redirected it into the net with his right foot with 2:33 left.
Brunswick (14-3-1) continued to push and had one more chance to tie on a set piece with 18.2 seconds remaining, but junior midfielder Liam Rapoza’s shot from the top of the penalty box went just outside the right post.
It was the first Class A state title for Scarborough (18-0) since 2013. The Red Storm had played in the championship game three times since then (2015 against Lewiston, 2022 against Brunswick, 2024 against Camden Hills), but lost all three.
Scarborough is the first Class A team to finish with a perfect record since Lewiston in 2015.
“I haven’t had a better feeling playing sports in my life, probably,” fullback Finn Coburn said. “Last year, you know, we made it really far, but this year is just different. Going 18-0, having a perfect season, and being a senior, and I’m here with all my friends, it’s great.”
Coburn scored Scarborough’s first goal with 21:59 left in the opening half, on a set piece from 40 yards out. Moreau’s initial pass was gathered by Khalil Ghosheh, but the Dragons’ backline prevented a clean shot. Coburn said he was able to get his shot past Brunswick junior keeper Declan Theberge (seven saves) by “getting dirty in the box.”
Brunswick didn’t panic, and had a possession advantage to open the second half. Oliver Gorchoff evened the game off a set piece in the 51st minute. Brendan Shaw sent a long free kick to Rapoza, who quickly dumped it off to Gorchoff, who made a move and sent a shot past Scarborough senior keeper Reed Thurrell (three saves).
Bachman and Coburn said Scarborough was deflated by the tied score but were reenergized in the 72nd minute, when Brunswick junior forward Cris Bakueti earned his second yellow card of the match. As the Dragons played the final 8:54 with 10 men, the Red Storm continued to maintain possession and push the ball wide.
“I had a feeling we’d respond,” said Diaz after winning his seventh state championship. “We have all year. That’s how this group is. The moment, they can handle the moment, so I’m proud of them.”
Bachman also scored the game-winner in Scarborough’s 2-1 regional final win over Falmouth.
Brunswick coach Mark Roma expressed questions about Bakueti’s first half yellow card, but emphasized, “You don’t hang your head on that.”
“I’ve been through this before,” Roma said. “If you could come up with the right speech or the right words that would make these guys feel better, you’d pen it and make a million dollars. I just, I don’t have those words right now.”
