WINTHROP – Trailing 2-1 late in Monday’s soccer game, the Mt. Abram boys were in an unfamiliar position. The unbeaten Roadrunners had not been behind all season until Winthrop had them down in the final minutes.

That urgency proved fruitful, however, as the Roadrunners not only tied the game but then won it in overtime in a 3-2 victory over the Ramblers.

“It’s a good character builder,” said Mt. Abram coach Darren Allen. “Winthrop always plays us tough. (Winthrop coach) Lonney (Steeves) always plays us tough with his kids. This year, it’s wide open in the Mountain Valley Conference. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night, and this is a perfect example of it tonight.”

Dave Fullerton tied the game late in regulation. Sterling Hooke then scored his second of the night with 3:33 left in the second overtime. Alex Crossman sent a pass from the right side. Hooke was alone in front for the easy redirection.

“It was Alex Crossman who crossed it right to me,” said Hooke, who has four goals this season. “All I did was tip it in. I actually thought I’d hit it over, but I didn’t.”

The win spoiled a fine effort by the Ramblers (0-3). Winthrop was already playing without starters John Nason and Tim Gingras because of illness.

Then Brenden Belanger suffered a knee injury, and Nic Lemieux left the game with a possible concussion.

“After Nic got hurt, we played without four guys,” said Steeves, who had eight players in their first varsity game. “To have all those young guys step up like that, it was just an amazing effort.”

Winthrop’s cause was bolstered by the play of goaltender Mike Gingras. The senior keeper broke the school record for career saves with his first stop of the evening. Gingras had already tied the mark of Joel Weisberger with 513 saves set earlier this decade. Gingras had already tied the record and set the new mark when he stopped a shot from the right side 10 minutes into action. He finished with 18 saves as Mt. Abram (4-0) outshot the Ramblers 28-6.

“Mike Gingras hardly ever gets a vote for an all-star in the league,” said Steeves. “You tell me that he’s not an all-star the way he plays in the goal. He makes saves most kids can’t get to. He gives us a chance.”

Gingras did that early on as the Roadrunners outshot Winthrop 15-2 in the first half. Hooke finally put one by him with 6:48 left in the half. His shot from the right side deflected in off a Winthrop player. The Ramblers caught a break to tie it with 5:32 left in the half. Mt. Abram goaltender Wyatt Johnson slipped on a shot from the corner. Ian Briggs managed to steer it past him for the equalizer.

The Ramblers took the lead with 11:30 left in regulation. Ryan Phillips put a pass ahead for the speedy Dave Zimmerman, who beat the defense for the go-ahead goal. Mt. Abram cranked up the pressure in the final minutes. It was a throw-in by Ronal Cabe that was headed in by Fullerton with 5:17 left. It was the fourth straight game the Roadrunners have scored on a throw.

“I don’t know how many throws Ronal had in the box,” said Allen. “It must have been like 20. It’s just trying to get one in there.”