BRUNSWICK — Tyler Jamison scored the game-winning goal with two minutes remaining in regulation to lift Gardiner to its third straight Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B title with a 10-9 win over Maranacook/Winthrop on Friday afternoon.

“I’m really proud of our guys. They did a good job, kept their heads and focused on the game,” Gardiner coach KC Johnson said. “Four years ago our seniors lost in the KVAC game in triple overtime but have come back to win three straight, which says a lot about this team.”

On a designed play that the Tigers have been working on in practice recently, Jamison followed Keegan Smith through the middle, received a pass from Smith and dumped the ball in over the head of Hawks goalkeeper Zach Bessette for the game winner.

“We just put that play in this week in practice,” Jamison, who scored a career-high four goals, said. “I try to use my height as an advantage, so I went over the top of the goalkeeper.”

Jamison’s goal was the ninth and final lead change in a title game that featured outstanding play by both teams, especially on the defensive end.

“That was one of the best games we have played,” Maranacook/Winthrop coach Jared Knowlton said. “Playing like we did in this game against a good Gardiner team should give us plenty of momentum heading into the playoffs next week.”

Gardiner (12-1) is the No. 2 seed in Eastern Maine Class B and will host No. 7 Morse on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. No. 5 Maranacook (9-4) travels to No. 4 North Yarmouth Academy.

Gardiner appeared to have the game under control, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Smith, Jamison and Dalton Sargent. Maranacook/Winthrop battled back, repeatedly winning faceoffs and possession, allowing the Hawks to score five straight goals for a 5-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Dan Condon paced the Hawks comeback effort with a pair of goals, along with single tallies by Luke Emery, Toby Smith and Dan Giguere.

“Things weren’t going our way early,” Knowlton said. “We called a timeout and made a defensive change and it became a game.”

This time it was Gardiner that battled back when Jamison scored on a beautiful reverse pivot move in front of the crease with 1:47 left in the half to tie the game 6-6 at halftime.

Defense took center stage through most of the third and a large portion of the fourth quarter. Gardiner goalkeeper Cody Hickey was on top of his game, making 15 saves on 28 Maranacook shots while Bessette was equal to the task with eight saves on 23 Tiger shots.

In front of the two goalkeepers, long stick defenders Steve Sirois, Josh Moore and Mike Caliandro of Gardiner and Giguere, Simon Davis and Jim Cumming of Maranacook/Winthrop were stalwarts playing against strong attacking tactics.

“The defense was outstanding,” Johnson said. “Both teams worked really hard to keep their teams in the game.”

Gardiner grabbed a two-goal lead, 9-7 with 8:24 left in the game, when Smith scored on a strong solo effort down the right side. Maranacook countered on goals by Emery and Zach Glacier to knot the game 9-9 with 4:52 left.