FALMOUTH — Despite dealing with an illness and with tight defense by Falmouth’s Emma England all game, Thornton Academy junior striker Tori Daigle had a little fuel left in her tank in the second overtime of a Class A West girls soccer semifinal on Saturday. Daigle got possession of the ball at midfield, tore up the right sideline past England, and fired a perfectly timed pass to Haley DaGraca in the middle of the penalty box for the only goal in a 1-0 victory for the Trojans at Falmouth High School.

DaGraca missed high on a similar chance less than five minutes into the game for the match’s first shot. The Trojans had the majority of the early chances, as they dictated play for the first 20 minutes.

The Yachtsmen had a couple chances in the box after the midway point of the half, but the Thornton defense and goalie Lexi Nason turned them away.

Thornton’s Amanda Arnold ”“ with 20 goals in the regular season ”“ had a couple shots from inside the box three minutes apart late in the half, and Falmouth’s Megan Miller had a pair of chances in the final five minutes.

“Credit to Falmouth. They played a real defensive game,” said Thornton head coach Chris Kohl. “They frustrated us, limited our opportunities.”

The Yachtsmen were able to penetrate deep into the Thornton end more consistently in the second half, including three corner kicks in a six-minute span midway through.

Daigle nearly ended the game twice in regulation in the final minute, but two shots from the right side of the box went wide left, sending the game into overtime.

“I was hoping (they would go in), but they were just this far away,” said Daigle.

Falmouth got the ball first to start the first overtime, but Arnold intercepted a pass off the opening kick and got the ball to the top of the box before the Yachtsmen were able to clear it away.

Arnold and Meg Hurrell both had shots from inside the box turned away within the first two minutes.

The Trojans had a little scare with 20 seconds left in the first overtime, but Nason was able to track down a bouncing ball off the foot of Falmouth’s Emma Van Wickler before it got to the goal.

Thornton’s Katherine Gillespie took a direct kick and a corner kick for the Trojans during the first three minutes of the second overtime, but missed high on the free kick, and saw the corner cleared away.

The Yachtsmen then carried the ball into the Thornton end, but the Trojan defense took over possession and funneled the ball out to Daigle on the right side.

“I just wanted it so bad. I knew I had to beat her that time,” said Daigle.

All game the speedy junior had tried to outrace England ”“ as she had done to defenders all season. England was able to keep pace with her, but approaching the five-minute mark of the second overtime, Daigle was finally able to hit the after-burners.

Daigle got a step ahead of England and got a clear pass from the right edge of the box to DaGraca, who beat Falmouth goalie Meg Pierce to the ball and blasted it into the right side of the net.

“I was always one step ahead of her, but she had me the whole game. But I had her on the last one,” said Daigle.

“Tori finally beat her defender. They were like battling every time. She beat her, and she sent the perfect ball, and I just tried my hardest to get it,” said DaGraca. “I just saw it going across the 18, and all I could think of is, ”˜I’m getting this if it’s the last thing I do.’ I was willing to go through walls to get that.”

“Tori is sick as a dog. She put everything that she had left ”“ and she put it out there ”“ and then she put that one last burst together, and Haley made a great run,” said Kohl. “Great finish. Great composure. She kept her head over the ball and just finished it.

“Then it all went into pandemonium, and the rest of it is a blur right now.”

The win sends the Trojans to the Western Maine final for the third time in five years, and ends the Yachtsmen’s hopes for a fourth-consecutive state title ”“ after winning three in Class B before moving up to Class A this season.

“The girls really persevered. I’m proud of them,” said Kohl. “Playoff games are tough, and road playoff games can be even more difficult.”

Thornton will face top-seeded Windham ”“ who beat the Trojans 1-0 early in the regular season ”“ in the regional final on Wednesday at Windham High School.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.