BATH

Like many teams sitting in the middle of the Heal Point Standings, the Morse High School girls soccer team knows there is still work to be done in these final games.

The Shipbuilders took advantage of the opportunity to do such work, taking down the Gardiner Tigers, 3-0 in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference action Thursday evening.

At 8-3-2, Morse currently sits in fourth place in the Class B North Heal Point Standings with one game remaining.

On a night when the Morse seniors were honored, it was sophomore Emily Martin who scored three goals, including a pair in the first half to lead the way.

“We had two tough games against Maranacook (loss, tie),” said Morse coach Steve Boyce. “I just wanted us to feel good about ourselves.”

The Shipbuilders immediately went to work on the Tigers. Less than two minutes into the game, Martin stole a Tigers pass after the defense failed to clear the ball, and blasted a shot by goalie Logan Granholm for a score and a 1-0 lead.

“I didn’t over-think it, so I could place it in a good spot,” said Martin. “We’ve fixed our formations, so we’re attacking more and that’s helped us a lot.”

It took only four minutes for Martin to score her second, when the midfielder once again found the back of the net for a quick 2-0 lead.

“She counts goals as a positive result,” said Boyce. “A result she works hard for and expects nothing less. She gives everyone around her an opportunity.”

Midway through the half, Emily’s sister Ella took a pass from her younger sibling and legged a shot on goal. Granholm made the stop, but was unable to cradle the ball and had to quickly corral it before it went in the net.

Over the next 15 minutes, Morse continued taking shots at the Tigers, but came up empty. Emily Martin’s header went high over the net and a shot missed off one of Morse’s four first-half corners kept the lead at two.

“Finishing is tough,” said Boyce. “We took some shots tonight, and their goalies made some great saves.”

Marissa Parks made saves of her own for the home team. The senior foiled Gardiner’s best opportunity in the opening frame when she came up with the stop on a blast with three-and-a-half minutes remaining.

“She may not have seen as much activity tonight as other games,” said her coach, who watched Parks stop all five shots that she faced. “But sometimes those are the hardest. It’s when you haven’t had many opportunities all night.”

The ’Builders took the 2-0 lead into the break, out-shooting Gardiner, 10-3.

Sierra Wallace nearly scored early into the second half for Morse. Goalie Brianna Perry, fresh into the game, turned the senior’s shot away.

Perry had no time to rest. Taking a pass from Ella Martin, Emily Martin put a shot on goal, forcing the junior to come out and make the save. Emily Martin’s next three shots were also stopped by Perry.

“Brianna really stepped up in net tonight, she faced some tough shots from No. 19 (Emily Martin),” said Gardiner coach Jolaine Galibois Barss after Perry made 10 saves in the second frame.

Emily Martin got her third goal of the contest after picking up a loose ball in front of the net and drilling it to the back of the net for the final score.

“I missed out on some goals tonight, so I was happy to get that third goal,” said Emily Martin.

“Emily has what it takes to be a better player,” said her coach. “And I think that’s why she beats herself up sometimes.”

Morse finished with 25 shots and 13 corners in the victory. With one game remaining against Oceanside on Tuesday, Boyce looked ahead.

“With a little luck, we could sneak up a spot, but fourth is just fine,” added Boyce. “We need to take care of Oceanside.”

Morse 3, Gardiner 0

At McMann Field in Bath

	Gardiner		— 0	0	—	0
Morse		—	2	1	—	3

Goals — (Mo) Emily Martin 3. Shots — Morse 25, Gardiner 5. Saves — (G) Logan Granholm 7, Brianna Perry 10, (Mo) Marissa Parks 5. Corners — Morse 13, Gardiner 2. Records — Morse 8-3-2, Gardiner 0-12-1. Up next for the Shipbuilders — Tuesday at Oceanside at 3:30 p.m.