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Western Class C Girls: Georges Valley stays unbeaten by edging defending champ Waynflete in the regional final.

By PAUL BETIT, Staff Writer November 5, 2009

THOMASTON — Unbeaten Georges Valley ended Waynflete's reign as Class C girls' soccer state champion on Wednesday.

Jill Bradbury and Jen Denault scored in the first 17 minutes, and freshman goalkeeper Kennadi Grover shut down the Flyers in the second half as the second-seeded Buccaneers eked out a 2-1 win against No. 4 Waynflete in the Western Maine final at Pendleton Field.

The Buccaneers, who last won a regional title in 1997 despite losing just one regular-season game in the past six seasons, will play Eastern champion Orono for the state title Saturday at a site to be determined.

"This is a great day for a blue-collar town," said Georges Valley Coach Darryl Townsend. "It's wonderful to have my kids work toward everything I tell them to do, so I'm pretty pleased."

Georges Valley (15-0-2) used its skill and speed to overwhelm most of its opponents, but against the Flyers (15-2), the Bucs concentrated on keeping the ball away from high-scoring seniors Morgan Woodhouse and Sasha Timpson.

"They're great weapons and you can't let them loose," Townsend said. "We had to play a style we haven't played all season, and the kids adjusted."

Woodhouse dribbled along the right side and scored off the far post less than two minutes into the game.

It took Georges Valley a little more than a minute to respond. Bradbury headed in Danielle Frye's corner kick to tie the game.

"You just have to keep playing like nothing happened," said Frye. "You can't play like you're behind."

The Bucs took the lead for good less than 17 minutes in. Denault sent a hard shot from 35 yards over the head of goalie Julia Pope.

"I just put it up there and gave it all I got," Denault said. "I just let it go."

Georges Valley held a 6-2 edge in shots in the first half, but Grover had to make seven saves in the second half.

"(Grover) all year has never ceased to amaze me," Townsend said. "She's only a freshman and she's not even a goalie. She's a basketball player. She's got great hands. She's smart and she doesn't get rattled."

Grover took over after Emily Cox, last year's starting keeper, moved.

"She goes for everything that is kicked toward her or is difficult to get to," Denault said. "She goes for it and she's not scared at all."

"Both teams came out and played really hard, and I'm proud of my kids for coming out and giving it their all," Waynflete Coach Todd Dominski said. "It came down to execution, and we weren't able put the ball in."

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com