Hall-Dale’s Jaxson Olsen, center, celebrates after Karter Eldridge, front left, scored to put the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the Class C boys’ soccer state final on Saturday in Bangor. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

BANGOR — Of all of the decisions that helped the Hall-Dale boys’ soccer team secure their first Class C state title on Saturday afternoon, one proved pivotal – and it came before kickoff.

With winds whipping over 20 mph through Cameron Stadium, Hall-Dale won the pregame coin toss. Coach Jesse Rowe decided to attack toward the wind first. The move paid off for the Bulldogs, who beat Washington Academy, 1-0, to secure the first Gold Ball in the program’s 45-year history.

It was a decision, Rowe said, that came from his experience coaching in the Mountain Valley Conference.

“One of the things that’s nice about coaching in the MVC is, you’re coaching against some really smart coaches,” Rowe said. “In southern Maine, I feel like we have some of the best coaches to coach against. I kept hearing their voices, kept hearing, ‘The tactical piece is that little bit. Recognize the weather, recognize what you can do.’ My assistant coaches (Dan Burdin and Erin Cary) were on it from the jump. We just discussed it, and when we won the toss, that was pretty much it.”

Washington Academy (11-7) outshot the Bulldogs (16-2) by a 6-1 margin in the first half. Hall-Dale held a decisive 10-1 edge in the second half.

Hall-Dale freshman goalkeeper Landon Gilbert had his best outing of the season, earning a shutout by stopping shots that constantly knuckled through the wind on their way to the net.

“It was pretty insane,” Gilbert said. “Any spin (on the ball, the wind) could make it go any way it wanted to. It looked like a knuckleball, a curl that goes backward or right at you. It’s very hard to tell with those.”

“He did a fantastic job,” Hall-Dale senior forward Jaxon Olsen added. “He’s been doing that all year, but for him to step up in the state game, it’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to see how far he goes for the rest of his high school years.”

Hall-Dale goalie Landon Gilbert, right, celebrates with teammates after time ran out in the Class C state final Saturday. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The game was tied 0-0 at the half, a small victory for Hall-Dale, which would have the wind at its back in the second half.

“It made us a little bit slower in the first half, but we also saw what chances would be created (in the second half),” Rowe said.

The Bulldogs took full advantage, dominating possession over the final 40 minutes. Hall-Dale maintained patience despite multiple scoring opportunities, including a scrum in front of the Raiders net at the 30-minute mark, where the Bulldogs took three quick shots on net. Six minutes later, Hall-Dale finally broke through when sophomore Reid Parlin, reading the wind, placed a perfect corner kick that Karter Eldridge converted.

“Just before the game (assistant coach), Dan Burdin told me to not put (the corner kick) too close to the goal, because of the wind,” Parlin said. “I just followed what he said, and it ended up being a goal.”

“I just popped out a few feet, saw (the corner) was a little short, popped out a little on the keeper and just put it in,” Eldridge added.