Pine Tree Academy Middle School Team Advances to MCSSL Championship Game with 4-3 Win Over Windham Christian Academy

The Pine Tree Academy middle school soccer team secured its spot in the Maine Christian School Sports League finals, beating the Windham Christian Academy Warriors 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, on their home field. They had to come from behind multiple times in the game to punch their ticket to the championship game.

Seventh-grader Nora Lounder scored the game-winning goal with about six minutes left to play, after eighth-grader Sam Cornish did much of the heavy lifting to that point, scoring the Breakers' first three goals.

The Warriors, who lost to Pine Tree earlier in the season, 7-3, on their home pitch, gave the Breakers all they could handle this time, jumping out to a quick 1-0 lead just minutes into the game with a strike by Eamon Goan. Cornish responded a short time later, however, netting his first goal of the game to pull even—sending the game to halftime knotted up at 1-1.

When the second half opened, Pine Tree carried much of the play and applied most of the pressure. Their efforts finally paid off when Cornish tallied his second goal, on a beautiful pass from seventh-grader Thatcher Trubey, putting the Breakers up 2-1.

But their lead did not last long. Feeling a bit complacent, they allowed Windham to swiftly strike for two goals, both by Eamon Goan, putting the Warriors up 3-2 and leaving the Breakers reeling a bit and wondering how they could squander the lead so quickly.

Digging down deep, however, Pine Tree rediscovered their legs and the back of the net, with Cornish evening the score on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. A short time later, he found Lounder, sliding the ball over to her, which she swiftly deposited into the net for the game-winning goal.

Though Windham tried to mount a comeback over the last five minutes of the game, the Pine Tree defense—anchored by seventh-graders Maia Domingos and Campbell Trubey, and sixth-grader Clever Mugiraneza—clamped down and rarely allowed them to advance much into the offensive zone. The few times they did, seventh-grade goalkeeper Granten Verrill was easily equal to the task, denying any bid they offered.

When the clock struck zero, Pine Tree found itself victorious and advancing to the championship game for the first time since 2022. They have a quick turnaround, playing Thursday, October 29 at 4 p.m. at Edward Little High School in Auburn, squaring off against another team—Calvary Chapel—that is also undefeated.

The Breakers hope to add to their trophy collection, having won the MCSSL Middle School title six previous times.