1972 Gorham High School, New England Champions and Class A State Champions

Induction Ceremony Presentation Script

“We will begin with recognizing members of the 1972 Gorham High School Team who have joined us today to celebrate their amazing journey. The 1972 Gorham High School Boy’s Soccer Team completed a historic season by winning the New England Championship, as well as Conference, State and Regional Titles. After losing in the New England finals the previous year, the team returned with a powerful mix of seasoned talent and emerging athletes to capture the ultimate prize. The 1972 victory is a significant part of Gorham High School’s athletic history, with the team’s grit and determination creating a lasting legacy for future athletes. It is truly a “Hoosiers Story” with a small high school in Maine taking on a large school of 4000 students from Massachusetts.  For many years, the team’s championship was a point of pride, remembered as an era when a small Maine town’s soccer team became the best in New England.”

Here is a summary of that journey:

It did not begin well because Gorham lost to Greely 2 – 1 the first game of the 1972 Season

After a 13 game winning streak the first playoff game resulted in a 3 – 0 defeat of Camden-Rockport

In the Western Maine Regional Championship Gorham beat Greely 3 – 2 

In the Class A State Championship Gorham defeated Fort Kent 3 – 2, which qualified them to compete in the New England Tournament

In the opening round Gorham beat Mt. Anthony Union of Vermont 3 – 1

That victory set up a dramatic return to the New England Championship Game. After falling to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the 1971 finals, Gorham defeated Cathedral High of Springfield, MA in a thrilling rematch at Bowdoin College to take the regional title 2 – 0 

Here are the players who have joined us today:

Rusty Keene

Greg Dugas

Tom Bachelder

James Kramlich

John Matthews

Ed Meyers

Joe Ramsdell

Bill Snow

Doug Stevens

Archie Howe

And the wife of Bruce Rust 

Valerie Rust

Gentlemen and Lady – what a tremendous journey!!

Bio

The 1972 Gorham High School Boy’s Soccer Team completed a historic season by winning the New England Championship, as well as Conference, State and Regional Titles. After losing in the New England finals the previous year, the team returned with a powerful mix of seasoned talent and emerging athletes to capture the ultimate prize.

A remarkable championship journey

• Regular Season play in the Triple “C” – after losing the opening game of the season to Greely High School 2 – 1 the team won the remaining 13 games to finish 13 – 1 – 0
• Won the Triple “C” Championship Class L Division (8 – 0 – 0) to qualify for the MPA Tournament (only four teams qualified in each class and region)
• In the Western Maine Semifinals Gorham beat Camden-Rockport (Mid-Coast Champions)3 – 0 (Goal Scorers – Dennis Burnham (2), Eddie Quinlan (1)
• In the Western Maine Regional Championship Gorham beat Greely 3 – 2 (Goal Scorers – Ted Woodbrey (2), Jim Philbrick (1) Game played under the lights at Gorham before 1,300 Fans
• In the Class A State Championship Gorham defeated Fort Kent High School 3–2 (Goal Scorers – Ted Woodbrey (2), Joe Ramsdell (1), Assists – Rusty Keene (1), Greg Dugas (1), Keeper Saves – Dan Doyle (7)
• New England Tournament Opening Game at Bowdoin College Gorham defeated Vermont Champion Mt. Anthony Union of Bennington 3 – 1 (Goal Scorers – Dennis Burnham (2), Eddie Quinlan (1), Assist – Greg Dugas (1), Keeper Saves – Dan Doyle (10)
• New England Finals rematch: The victory set up a dramatic return to the New England Championships. After falling to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the 1971 finals, Gorham defeated Cathedral High of Springfield, MA in a thrilling rematch at Bowdoin College to take the regional title 2 – 0 (Goal Scorers – Eddie Quinlan and Greg Dugas (1 each), Assist – Dennis Burnham (1), Keeper Saves – Dan Doyle (9)
• Jim Philbrick, Ted Woodbrey, Greg Dugas, Doug Stevens, Tom Bachelder were 3-time Class A State Champions. 
  
  

Scores of the 1972 Season from the 1973 Yearbook “Schola”

• A team effort: The championship was built on strong teamwork and competitive spirit, as highlighted by coach George Stevenson, who noted, “We had good athletes as well as good soccer players”. The team was known for its offseason training, an uncommon practice at the time.

Roster of Champions

The team’s success was a result of a deep and talented roster, which is shown way beyond the remarkable 1972 Season:

• Rusty Keene (Captain) Played for University of Maine Men’s Soccer Team (1973 – 1976), Captain (1976)
• Dennis Burnham (13 goals) During Gorham’s playoff run scored 4 goals, including 2 in the New England Championship, Played at Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute (1978 – 1979)
• Ted Woodbrey (12 goals) NSCAA All American, NSCAA All-New England, Played for University of Maine Men’s Soccer Team – MVP (1975), Captain (1976), All New England (1973 and 1975), All-Yankee Conference (1973 and 1975), Career Point Record (57 – 24 goals and 9 assists), Inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame (2016)
• Greg Dugas (11 goals and 10 assists) NSCAA All New England (1976), Played for University of Maine at Farmington (1973 – 1976), NCC All-Star, 1973), Team MVP (1973 and 1974) NAC All-Star (1974 and 1975), NAIA District 5 All-Star (1975 and 1976), Career Scoring Marks – Goals (49), Assists (29), Points (78), Kevin MacDonald Memorial Award (1976), Inducted in to the UMF Hall of Fame (1996), Scored 4 goals in the 1st Men’s Summer League Championship at Thomas College (1973)
• Eddie Quinlan (11 goals and 10 assists) Played at Bowdoin College (1974 – 1977), Leading scorer and Captain (1977), Selected NSCAA All America Honorable Mention, All New England and a Division II All-Star, Led Bowdoin to a 10 – 2 – 1 record (1977)
• Jim Philbrick NSCAA All-New England, Played soccer, baseball, and basketball at Amherst College (1974 – 1977), All New England (1977)
• Tommy Bachelder Played for University of Maine Men’s Freshman Soccer Team – MVP (1973), Played for Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute (1976–1977), Played in the Maine Men’s Summer Soccer League (1973–1978) winning 2 State Championships (Gorham Pharmacy, Leo’s Mobile), Played in the Vermont Champlain Valley Summer Soccer League (1979–1988), Played in the Vermont IBM Soccer League (1979–1988) winning multiple league championships.
• Danny Doyle Played at the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (1973)
• Steve Labrecque Earned five Varsity Letters in four years at Gorham
• Greg Nason Played for University of Maine at Farmington (1973), Played in the Men’s Summer Soccer League for Gorham Pharmacy (1974)
• Bruce Rust Played in the Men’s Summer Soccer League for Leo’s Mobil (1977), Maine State Soccer Association Champions (1977) beating Fort Kent 3 – 0 in the final
• Doug Stevens Played at Bowdoin College (1973 – 1976), Member of Bowdoin College Team awarded the Sampson Trophy as the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League’s Top Division II Team (1976), Played in Maine’s Men’s Summer Soccer League for over ten years, Played in Massachusetts Men’s 30+ and 40+ Adult Leagues, Nationally Certified Soccer Coach with USSF, NSCAA, Coerver Coaching Licenses, Head Coach Massachusetts Premier League and District Select Program, Reading United Soccer Club Board of Directors for over 15 years.
• Jim Burnell Helped lead Gorham to the Triple “C” Class L Championship, the Class A State Championship, and the New England Championship (1972)
• Ron Charrier Earned five Varsity Letter in four years at Gorham, Played soccer at SMVTI (1978), Played for the Casco Bay Baseball League for the Gorham Merchants (1976 – 1978), Played for the Maine Majestic Softball Team (1978)
• Archie Howe Played soccer at SMVTI (1975)
• Jim Kramlich Played for University of Maine Men’s Frosh Soccer Team (1974)
• Paul Lurvey Played in the Men’s Summer Soccer League for Gorham Pharmacy (1974) and Leo’s Mobil (1977), Maine State Soccer Association Champions (1977) beating Fort Kent 3 – 0 in the final
• Craig Marsh Played tennis at the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (1977 – 1978), Captain (1977)
• Randy O’Brien Helped lead Gorham to the Triple “C” Class L Championship in 1972, Scored against Greeley in season opener in 1972, Scored two goals against Cape Elizabeth in a 4 – 3 victory in 1974
• Joe Ramsdell Scored goal in the Class A State Championship against Fort Kent (1972)
• Norman Shiers Played soccer at SMVTI (1976)
• Bill Snow Played in the Men’s Summer Soccer League for Lachance Brikck of Gorham (1976) and Leo’s Mobil (1977), Maine State Soccer Association Champions (1977) beating Fort Kent 3 – 0 in the final
• Jeff Stevens Played at the University of Maine Men’s Soccer Team (1974-1977), Played in the Men’s Summer Soccer League for Leo’s Mobil (1977), Maine State Soccer Association Champions beating Fort Kent 3 – 0 in the final. Leading scorer in the ’77 State tournament with 3 goals, including 2 in the 3-0 final against Fort Kent, Played in Men’s Summer Soccer League for over 15 years (1974 – 1989) for Rust Farm, Leo’s Mobil, and Geddy’s Blues (1985 playoff team), Co-Director of Southern Maine Summer Soccer League (with Lowell “Bubba” Smith 1980 – 1988), Assistant High School Coach (Greely 1980 – 87, Windham 1988), helped coach Greely HS to 1984 State Championship, Refereed under Ken Roberts in southern Maine (1982 – 1988), NSCAA Advanced Coaching Diploma 1987,  coached HS soccer at Paul VI Catholic HS (Virginia) for 12 years (1994 – 2006, league finalist 2002), coached Youth Soccer teams in Virginia for 6 years (2014 – 2020), Played in club soccer until age 53. 
• Jim Welch Played soccer at SMVTI (1975)
• Tom Williams Three Year Varsity Letter winner, Scored against Scarborough in 1972 helping Gorham win the Triple “C” with a 8 – 0 – 0 record, Scored against Bonney Eagle and Thornton Academy in 1973
• Marty Matthews and Ed Meyers: Team Managers (1972)
  

Coach George Stevenson speaks at the Banquet hosted the Gorham Boosters

Click Here to see George Stevenson’s Bio

Click Here to see how the weather affected the New England Tournament in 1972

A lasting legacy

The 1972 victory is a significant part of Gorham High School’s athletic history, with the team’s grit and determination creating a lasting legacy for future athletes. For many years, the team’s championship was a point of pride, remembered as an era when a small Maine town’s soccer team became the best in New England.

Click here for more on the New England Torunament