BRUNSWICK

It was inconceivable.

Second-seeded Brunswick, 14-0 and home to No. 7 Erskine Academy in an Eastern Maine Class A high school girls soccer quarterfinal on Tuesday, held a 2-0 halftime lead despite “us really not being on form today for some reason,” said coach Martyn Davison.

Davison had seen this before, a lackadaisical first half followed by a brilliant soccer display in the second half for an easy Dragons win. Plus, Brunswick had defeated the Eagles 5-0 during the regular season, so a win was in the cards.

But, the Eagles had other ideas, winning 50-50 battles, hustling for loose balls and outplaying the Dragons in the second half for a 2-2 tie through regulation. After two scoreless 15-minute overtimes and two penalty kick rounds as the sun began to set, Erskine left Brunswick stunned, taking round three of PKs (4- 2) for a 3-2 victory.

The loss ends the Dragons’ season at 14-1, while the Eagles improved to 10-4-2 and face the winner of No. 6 Lawrence/No. 3 Hampden Academy on Saturday in an Eastern A semifinal.

“We were not buzzing and were just flat, and I felt we were lucky to be up 2-0, but that’s soccer, where one day you have it and one day you do not,” said Davison as his disappointed team left the field, ending the high school soccer careers of seniors Libby Arford, Hannah Kressback, Paige Tetu, Lauren Carlton, Allison Hill, Rachel Moroney and Jena Libby. “This was a group of kids who helped win the 2009 state title, and now we have a new cycle coming in and will have to build it up again.

“Erskine was intense and hustled. We did not and I’m just not sure why. Our girls fought, but just didn’t perform today.”

PKs were a familiar experience for the Eagles, who defeated Cony in PKs in the preliminary round on Friday to advance.

“Being in penalty kicks, we were not comfortable knowing just how talented Brunswick is, but what makes me comfortable is my goalie (Paige Leary), and she just won the game for us,” said Erskine coach Ryan Nored. “Our passing and aggressiveness were very good today.”

Brunswick leads

The Dragons jumped on top 2-0 less than 13 minutes into the game. Rachel Moroney beat two Eagle defenders to the ball for the opening goal at 30:07, and Kassidy Scarponi scored unassisted 2:11 later to double the lead.

Brunswick had two chances to up the lead, but Leary made a big save on a breakaway by Maddy Cowan and stopped Anna Cowan to keep her team in it.

“We had a couple chances to make it 3-nil, and no one is coming back from that,” said Davison.

Erskine jolted the Dragons just 24 seconds into the second half on a goal by Avery Bond, who finished off a pass from Kelly McCormac, and Bridget Humphrey’s 30-yard boot slipped through the hands of Brunswick netminder Haley Murano and across the goal line with 22:51 remaining to tie the game.

“We weren’t really on our game, and they were out to win and much more fierce to the ball, where we were too laid back,” said Brunswick’s Anna Cowan, whose Dragons had lost the KVAC title game to Bangor on Friday in PKs. “At first, our passing game was on, but after that we seemed to get tired after a long weekend and we fell apart. We never expected to be in this position, but kudos to Erskine for putting us there.”

Brunswick outshot the Eagles 8-3 in the two overtime periods, but Leary made five of her 13 saves in overtime, including a diving stop on Anna Cowan.

After an opening round 4-4 deadlock, Brunswick went up 4-3 on a goal by Julia Champagne. The Eagles tied it and Brunswick shooter Maddy Cowan clipped the cross bar to send the game to the third round of PKs.

McCormac and Humphrey, along with Brunswick’s Arford and Hill scored for a 2- 2 deadlock in round three. Bond gave the visitors a 3-2 lead, and Leary dove to her left to stop Tetu. After Tasha Dutil made it 4-2 for the Eagles, Lyse Henshaw fired high to end the game.

“We didn’t have confidence early in the year, but we knew we had nothing to lose and knew we could come out and win this,” said Leary.

Brunswick finished with a 21-11 shots advantage, with Murano turning aside five shots. The Dragons held an 8- 3 edge in corner kicks.

No. 7 Erskine 3, No. 2 Brunswick 2,

(Erskine Academy won round 3 of PKs,
4-2 to advance)
Eastern Maine Class A Girls Soccer
Quarterfinals
At Brunswick
Erskine— 02001—3
Brunswick—20000—2
Goals — (EA) Avery Bond, Bridget
Humphreys; (B) Rachel Moroney, Kassidy
Scarponi.
Assists — (EA) Kelly McCormac; (B) Julia
Champagne.
Shots — Brunswick, 21-11.
Saves — (EA) Paige Leary 13; (B) Haley
Murano 5.
Corner kicks — Brunswick, 8-3.
Records — Erskine 10-4-2, Brunswick
14-1.
Next — The Dragons’ season is concluded. Erskine visits No. 3 Hampden Academy on Saturday in the Eastern A semifinals.