LISBON FALLS – They hoped last season would be a catalyst, not an aberration.

After winning six games last fall, the rejuvenated Lisbon girls’ soccer team wanted more of the same this year. Instead, they’ve already surpassed last year’s success.

“It was a great foundation,” said junior Soleil Mathieu. “It got us into a winning season again. Coming off the season before, it was a rough season (one win), and we did really well and pulled through (last year). Now we’re just capitalizing on last season.”

The Greyhounds 4-0 win over Hall-Dale Monday gave Lisbon a 7-3-1 record. Lisbon went 6-8-1 last year and lost in the Western C preliminaries. The Greyhounds haven’t had this many wins since going 8-2-2 in 1994.

“We were really excited about the upcoming season,” said Mathieu. “We had a lot of young girls, but we also had a lot of new talent to the game. It brought a different view to the game. It gave us more offensive drive and coming in, we were looking to play the best we could, and so far we have.”

Mathieu, Saige Purser, Colleen Weddle and Angie Estes all scored goals Monday. Gabrielle Mathieu, the club’s lone senior, posted her seventh shutout this season.

After losing five starters, it wasn’t a given that Lisbon could duplicate last year. The core of the team is six juniors and four sophomores.

“Having such a young team were were a little worried but after preseason, we could see our team was close,” said Purser.

Lisbon had a good collection of returning players back but also added some key ingredients that have only enhanced the team. Their three losses have all been by one goal.

“They’ve been a very good surprise,” said Lisbon coach Claude Rioux. “I have some kids that have come in who didn’t play last year like Traelynne (Hinckley), a sophomore. She holds down one of the fullback positions. On the other side, Siobhan Riordan plays in the back. I didn’t expect them to come in a play like veterans like they have.”

Lisbon’s defense and midfield dominated Hall-Dale (1-9-1), as the Greyhounds outshot the Bulldogs 21-2.

Hinckley set up the first goal with a nice pass from the midfield that sent Purser in alone at 5:46.

“Traelynne assisted, and it went right through everyone and no one was there,” said Purser. “It looked like an open net to me.”

That was all the Greyhounds could produce in the first half, but Lisbon broke things open in the second stanza. Weddle’s corner kick found its way through a crowd and into the net 4:34 into the half. Then minutes later, Mathieu picked up speed in the midfield and burst by two defenders before steering it into the left corner past a charging goaltender.

“I just concentrated on the direction they were going and pushed it the opposite direction and used my speed to out run them,” said Mathieu. “The goalie actually cut off a lot of my angle, but I managed to squeeze it into the corner.”

An Ashley Mason flip-throw led to an Angie Estes goal with 24:01 left in the game.

“To me, it’s a complete team effort and we have a number of surprises, and they’re doing a great job,” said Rioux.