SANFORD — The Sanford girls soccer team had to battle both the upset-minded Marshwood Hawks as well as the elements in its Class A West prelim matchup on Friday night at Cobb Stadium. But the Spartans beat them both, as Allison Legere’s first-half goal led Sanford to a 1-0 victory.

Though neither team looked completely comfortable dealing with the slip-and-slide nature of the Cobb Stadium grass, Sanford better adjusted on its home turf. The Spartans dominated possession for much of the first half, even if the wet ball had a mind of its own. Taylor Littlefield nearly put the Spartans on top three minutes in, when a curling shot from the left-side doinked off the crossbar. Sanford had another missed chance six minutes later, as Marshwood goalie Macy Morrison was caught at the top of the box, but Laura Kirkpatrick’s sliding attempt at the ball rolled just wide.

Both teams spent much of the first half trying to string together passes, but it became increasingly difficult to read which way the ball would bounce.

The Spartans finally scored a little less than 10 minutes to go in the half. Hannah Kallis brought the ball deep into the right corner, and found Legere 15 yards out in front of the net. Kallis’ pass sneaked by a couple of defenders and Legere redirected it into the lower left corner.

“We were both battling the conditions, and we got a goal early. So we kind of just played with that lead,” said Sanford head coach Kendra Brown.

Sanford had numerous opportunities to extend the lead in the second half, which, combined with an increasing rain, could have put the game away. Kallis had a few shots that sailed wide, and Legere and Kirkpatrick also had chances near the net, but the Spartans couldn’t connect a second time.

Surviving those missed Spartan chances seemed to give momentum to the Hawks, and they almost tied the game early in the second half. Hannah Folger found herself behind the defense four minutes in at the top of the 18. She got a solid left foot on the ball, but Sanford goalie Kellie Tovey snatched the ball out of the air to rob Folger.

“I knew she was going to cut it in, so I cut off that angle. I was going to go and get it, but she took a shot early, and I just got my hands on it,” said Tovey, describing the play.

Tovey made a couple more saves in the second half, including punching the ball out from the goal mouth on a free kick with 45 seconds left.

Tovey said that playing with just a one-goal lead can put some pressure on her in net, and that some breathing room would have been nice.

“I would like to have that two-up thing. But we’ve had a couple games like (this), so I’ve gotten used to it,” said Tovey.

With a showdown with Scarborough next Wednesday on the horizon, the Spartans could have easily overlooked Marshwood. They didn’t however, and Brown attributes that to the girls being mentally ready for the playoffs.

“I told the girls early on that we got to come out and play the same, no matter what team it is,” said Brown. “They’re in playoff mode. They’re mentally ready. And they’re ready for anyone.”

— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323.