BANGOR — If the Brunswick High boys´ soccer team was going to put a stop to Bangor´s domination Wednesday, it needed just the right opportunity.

And there stood Scott Jarosz, at the doorstep of the Bangor goalmouth, the ball suddenly in front of him.

Jarosz kicked it in with 5:56 left in the second overtime to give second-seeded Brunswick a 2-1 win over the No. 1 Rams for the Eastern Class A championship.

Brunswick (15-1-1) will play Scarborough for the state title Saturday at Scarborough High.

The Dragons overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit with a goal by Zach McMillan and the play of goalkeeper Pete Morrell.

Both Brunswick goals came after long free kicks toward the goal, creating scrambles.

"That´s the kind of goal it takes against them. They´re a good side," Brunswick Coach Peter Gardner said.

Bangor (16-1) outscored opponents 63-1 in the regular season, then beat Brunswick on penalty kicks in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference final.

"That told these kids that they´re capable of playing (with Bangor)," Gardner said. "Our kids just gutted it out (Wednesday)."

Bangor took a 1-0 lead only 7:10 into the game. The Rams continued with pressure, just missing chances. They also poured it on in the first overtime. But Morrell played aggressively, coming out often to kick balls away.

"Peter came up huge," Gardner said.

Morrell could smile afterward.

"Bangor played great," he said. "They outplayed us but luckily it´s the team that scores the most goals."

At 7:39 of the second half, the Dragons tied it. Garrett Brann boomed a free kick from beyond midfield. No one gained possession during a scramble until McMillan buried it into the net.

The Rams kept coming but Brunswick, led by defenders Justin Rosner and Matt Kasabian, and Morrell, held them off.

"We were knocking on the door a few times but we couldn´t get one in," Bangor Coach Dave Patterson said. "And they got one at the right moment. A great playoff game."

In the second overtime, Brunswick had Morrell take a free kick from the Dragons´ side. He boomed it. Rosner headed it toward the goal. It bounced off a few players until Jarosz got it.

"I just came into the box. I think there were three headers and it just dropped to me," Jarosz said. "What we just did is absolutely amazing. That´s a really good side."

Rosner, a team captain, said "We´re just a bunch of guys willing to fight for each other. In the first overtime they pounded away and we fought for our lives."

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com