YARMOUTH – After watching Wednesday’s soccer game, you might wonder if Luke Welch actually needs to score with his feet.

In North Yarmouth Academy’s 3-1 win over St. Dom’s, the Auburn resident didn’t need his feet to score three goals to pace the defending Class C state champs. Welch headed in all three goals to lead the Panthers past their rival.

“I think he gets pumped up for these games,” said NYA coach Ben Graham. “That’s probably the best hat trick I’ve seen in high school soccer. I’ve never seen a hat trick of headers in high school.”

NYA (6-2) beat St. Dom’s (6-1) in last year’s regional final, 3-0, and are expected to challenge for the Western C crown once again.

“It’s nice confidence-wise and psychologically to get a 3-1 win here,” said Graham, whose team plays the Saints in Auburn October 8.

Welch broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second half, scoring two goals in a span of 3:04. All three tallies came off nice feeds from Shane Minte. The first two came off free kicks while the third was off a corner.

“Shane Minte was just putting big crosses into the box, and I would run onto them,” said Welch.

The game-winner was especially impressive. After a foul in the right corner, Minte served up a cross headed for the far post. Welch maneuvered around the defense, leapt and headed the ball while falling away from the net.

“I saw it coming across the box and going over everyone,” said Welch. “So I just tried to run behind the far post and dive for it and put it in.”

That came with 19:11 left in the game. Then with 16:07 remaining, Minte’s corner went to the middle of the goalmouth where Welch charged in and deposited it.

“We targeted Luke, trying to shut him down,” said St. Dom’s coach Lee Hixon. “We wanted to keep the ball off his feet, and he scored three with his head.”

The Saints had to rally in the first half. Welch had put the Panthers up 16:32 into the game when he headed a Minte pass from a deadball along the left sideline.

“We came out flat,” said Hixon. “We certainly didn’t play the way we were capable of playing. The kids are regretting that right now. They were so fired up coming here but as soon as we stepped onto the field, it was like someone flicked a switch. Our passes weren’t connecting. Our triangles weren’t together. We just played kick and chase, and you’re not going to beat NYA playing kick and chase.”

With 3:54 left in the half, Shawn Longley moved the ball to the right wing where Eric Rousseau fired a nice shot to tie it. The Saints put ample pressure on NYA and have five corners in the opening half.

“After we scored that first goal, we kind of got back on our heels and played more defensive,” said Welch. “In the second half, we stepped it up and played like we did the first 10 minutes of the game.”

The Saints put on some pressure early in the second half but couldn’t cash in. Longley, Rousseau and Josh Dwinal all did a nice job creating chances but couldn’t break the tie.

“We’re strong up front,” said Hixon. “It’s just a matter of finding the net.”

NYA has typically been a second half club. The Panthers picked up the pace and had a number of bids that were thwarted by Saints keeper Nate Hamlyn. That was until Welch got free midway through the half.

“He’s actually got more goals with his head now than with his feet this season,” said Graham. “That’s his fifth goal this season. That’s his third with his head and two with his feet.”