AUBURN – It is amazing what a 1-0 deficit will do.

The spark that the Edward Little girls’ soccer team needed Saturday came from the Skowhegan Indians. When the visitors took the lead early in the second half, it created the motivation the Red Eddies lacked.

“That’s all they needed,” said assistant coach Jen Ireland, who was filling in for head coach Tom Grossman Saturday. “They got down, and they just picked it up. They knew they had to come back, and they couldn’t let down the rest of the game.”

Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Skowhegan was key for EL (4-2). A loss would have dropped it to 3-3 with a hefty challenge coming Tuesday against Mt. Ararat.

It was a gratifying win for Ireland as well. She played at Skowhegan and was an assistant coach there last season. Following the game, the Red Eddies truly baptized their coach by dousing her in a large mud puddle along the sidelines.

“I found out Thursday that Tom wasn’t going to be able to make it,” she said. “It was a nice win. They said they won it for me. So it was a good win.”

Though EL got an early scoring chance from Allyson Thomas, the Red Eddies couldn’t continue that pace. Skowhegan’s physical play frustrated and distracted EL.

“We just got angry and started playing physical back,” said Erin Cain, who had a goal and an assist for EL. “It just made us want to play harder.”

The Indians struck first 2:30 into the second half. Kayla Thompson scored from the left side with a long high shot to the top of the net. It was a score that didn’t deflate EL, but one that drew a significant response.

EL began using its skill and created more offense, tying the game with 28:14 left in the game. Telma Rosquete’s corner kick bounced around a crowd before it came to Cain in front. She pounced on it and kicked it home for the equalizer.

“I think that just pushed us a little harder,” said Cain. “Now we knew we were tied, and we were still in the game.”

Just over four minutes later, Nicole Wotherspoon’s pass ahead got Lindsay Visbaras in behind the defense. She walked in and buried the game-winner with 24:03 left.

Skowhegan (2-4) wasn’t without its chances. With 7:56 remaining, Courtney Lancaster had a point-blank bid that EL keeper Brittney French knocked down before making another stop on the rebound.

Then with 13 seconds left, Cain sent the ball up the right wing for Rosquete. She weaved around the defense and curled a nice shot into the top of the net.

“They picked it up a lot,” said Ireland. “They have a tendency to come out flat. They’re working on that and doing a lot better job picking it up.”

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