Our Communities. Our Teams. Our Future.
We’re proud to make high school sports coverage free for everyone—because these moments matter. At Maine State Credit Union, we’re here for the people and places that make Maine strong. Let’s Go! Learn more at mainestatecu.org. 

View 5 photos

TOPSHAM — Mt. Ararat girls soccer coach Kevin Flaherty talked to his team about the importance of winning the first 15 minutes of each half in its Class A North quarterfinal against Brewer on Tuesday.

Come out, stick to the game plan and set the tone.

Third-seeded Mt. Ararat needed three minutes to do that, taking an early lead on sixth-seeded Brewer and holding on for a 2-1 win.

“It’s three years in a row we’ve hosted, three years in a row we got the first quarterfinal win. It’s that next one that we got to get over the hump with,” Flaherty said. “But really proud of the girls. They’re a very talented group. Year three now, they’re really understanding it, and we just have a lot of talent.”

The Eagles (12-3) travel to Rockport on Saturday to take on No. 2 Camden Hills in a regional semifinal. Brewer’s season ends at 6-7-2.

Mt. Ararat junior forward Katherine Therriault had an assist on senior forward Emma Berry’s goal in the third minute and another on a corner kick to senior midfielder Jaelyn Jensen in the 44th minute.

“Playoff games, I mean, they’re not super pretty, usually. Like, the results aren’t always reflecting what actually happened in the game,” Therriault said. “But I mean, we came out on top, so that’s all that matters.”

The Eagles controlled possession and held a 15-3 shot advantage. Mt. Ararat also attempted 12 second-half corner kicks. Brewer didn’t put a shot on target until the 55th minute.

Senior keeper Gabby Chasse stopped 13 shots for Brewer, eight in the first half. Junior goalie Morgandy Crawford made two saves for Mt. Ararat.

Jillian Ford got the Witches back in the game, scoring in the 62nd minute off a Lindsey Schneider cross from the right side, but the Eagles kept playing high-pressure defense to keep the ball in the attacking half for the remainder of the game.

“We’re like, ‘OK, we’ve done it before. We can do it,'” Berry said of the team’s late second-half composure. “It’s all about that we-can-do-it mindset that is really helping our team this year.”

Mt. Ararat won the regular-season matchup, 5-0, so Brewer coach Phil Turmelle was proud of his team’s tenacity on Tuesday night. With about 30 seconds left, the visitors had one final offensive break, but they were called offsides.

“That’s growth,” Turmelle said. “(Earlier in the season) we probably fold a little bit there. Through games throughout the year, you grow, you work harder, you get mentally tough, you get physically tougher. We stuck with it, had a couple more chances, and, hey, if we can start that way next year, who knows what can happen.”