HAMPDEN — Landen Gillis admitted to nerves on the eve of the postseason.
The Winslow boys soccer team had rarely been tested during a romp through a flawless regular season, and the senior striker wondered how the Black Raiders would fare against the adversity that the Class B North tournament promised to present. Gillis needed not worry.
Gillis smashed home a clinching goal in the second half Wednesday night, helping No. 2 Winslow to a 2-0 win over No. 4 John Bapst in the regional final at Hampden Academy. The Raiders improved to 18-0-0 and secured a berth in the Class B state final on Saturday against B South champion Yarmouth.
“We didn’t play a lot of close games this season,” Gillis said. “Coming into the playoffs we were worried that we would see someone that would (test us). The last few games we’ve focused on shifting our mentality to prepare ourselves for the tough games. Here we are, and I think we’ve done a good job.
“I think today was a really good test to make sure we’ll be ready for Saturday.”
The state championship game appearance this weekend marks Winslow’s first since 2017.
Sophomore Joey Richards put Winslow on the board in the fifth minute against the Crusaders (12-4-0). From there, John Bapst began to control the momentum, playing with some particular intent through the end of the half.
Winslow’s preferred track meet up and down the center aisle of the pitch was often foiled by a Crusader midfield every bit as talented as its own, and after the halftime break the game ground into a fit of stops and starts.
That’s when Winslow’s best threats did what they’ve done all year, finally connecting through Gillis for the contest’s second goal in the 59th minute.
“That’s what it usually comes down to in the playoffs,” Winslow coach Aaron Wolfe said. “The top players make a play or two in the game, and that’s usually the difference between two good teams playing. It’s the top players that are usually doing the things that enable you to win a game.”
Winslow keeper Jason Reynolds makes a save on a corner kick against John Bapst in the Class B North boys soccer championship Wednesday at Hampden Academy. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
In one of Winslow’s few sustained forays into the attacking third, junior Andrew Poulin made the brilliant decision not to try and turn into a driven cross in the center of the 18-yard box — instead flicking it onward into the path of Gillis for the finish.
For a Winslow side that’s outscored opponents by a count of 102-1 this season, with now 15 consecutive clean sheets on its resume, it was game over.
“That goal was crucial,” Gillis said. “That put it away for us. We knew from that point, we just had to maintain possession and run the clock. Once we got inside that 10-minute mark, just park the bus and just make sure we keep them from scoring.”
After upsetting top seed and previously unbeaten Presque Isle in the semifinals, John Bapst challenged the Raiders with its ability to control possession for stretches and bottle up the pace of the Winslow counter-attack.
“I think they made us not play the way we wanted to at times,” Wolfe said. “It came down to a couple of plays here and there for us that were the difference.”
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