TURNER — There was so little to choose between the Maranacook and Leavitt girls soccer teams Tuesday, it’s no surprise the game went to overtime.

What came as a surprise was the way the game ended.

Freshman Lillie McLaughlin’s pass turned into a goal, giving Maranacook a 1-0 win and a spot in Saturday’s Western Maine Class B semifinals.

McLaughlin scored 10 minutes, 32 seconds into sudden-death overtime, after retrieving a ball to the left of the goal and not far from the end line.

“I was trying to cross it into the middle, and it went off (a defender’s) chest and went in,” McLaughlin said.

Fifth-seeded Maranacook (9-3-3) advances to face No. 1 Morse in Bath, while fourth-seeded Leavitt finishes at 8-4-3.

Leavitt goalie Kelly Pomerleau was playing the pass while a defender in front of her was thinking shot. When the ball bounced off the defender, Pomerleau was unprepared for the ricochet.

“We talked about it all week, that the four vs. five game is always a close one,” Leavitt coach Chris Cifelli said. “In the back of my mind I knew someone was going to get a point-blank look or something crazy was going to happen. Unfortunately for us, something crazy happened.”

The Black Bears nearly ended the game seconds before McLaughlin’s game-winner when sophomore midfielder Sara Beckwith rung a long shot off the left post. But otherwise, scoring chances were few. Maranacook held an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal, with its best chances coming in the first half.

 Pomerleau (six saves) made her best stop from point-blank range off senior Hannah Clough 15 minutes into the game.

“It worked out well,” Clough said. “I’m really glad to come home with a win.”

Maranacook freshman goalie Elizabeth D’Angelo (five saves) wasn’t tested until the second half. The Hornets had two excellent scoring chances, the first when senior midfielder Taren McGray blasted a 30-footer toward the top of the net. D’Angelo deflected the ball off her hands and regained possession when it bounced behind her.

“That I was really worried about,” she said. “If it had been a foot (higher) it would have been in.”

Hornets striker Mariah Treadwell had an excellent scoring chance at the beginning of overtime when she broke in alone on the left side. She slipped slightly as she got off the shot, and D’Angelo was able to smother it.

The Black Bears played against a strong wind in the second half and the overtime period.

“With that wind it was difficult,” Maranacook coach Mike Morin said. “We talked about more of a short game and moving the ball more precisely. You’re not able to move the ball out as easily when you’re in trouble.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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