WINTHROP – Lisbon scored early and pushed the issue often Tuesday. Problem is, quantity and quality of opportunities are two entirely different animals.

It’s not that the Greyhounds were in any danger of losing, but they couldn’t rest until Ashley Marcellino’s last-second shot one-hopped harmlessly into the hands of Lisbon goalkeeper Samantha Purcell to preserve a 1-0 Mountain Valley Conference girls’ soccer victory over Winthrop.

Senior fullback Traelynne Hinckley converted off a corner kick at 14:16 of the first half. Lisbon (3-1) enjoyed territorial reign thereafter, unloading roughly six shots to every one from Winthrop.

“We just didn’t finish,” said Lisbon coach Claude Rioux, whose Greyhounds have logged three shutouts while dropping only a 2-0 verdict to Class C power Mt. Abram.

The lessons learned in that lone loss ensured that Lisbon never indulged itself in relaxation or self-assurance against Winthrop (1-3), even though play flowed favorably in the Greyhounds’ direction from start to finish.

“In that game against Mt. Abram we made two mistakes in 25 seconds, and it cost us,” Rioux said. “Otherwise, I think (the statistics) were just about even.”

Not this time. Lisbon enjoyed a 29-6 disparity in shots on goal and attempted the only two corner kicks in the game.

Hinckley and the Greyhounds capitalized on the first dead-ball opportunity. Colleen Weddle lofted the ball into perfect position in front of the cage. Stevanie Roy was the first Lisbon player to put a foot on it before Hinckley whirled free and found a seam around Winthrop goalkeeper Christine Dunn.

Dunn (21 saves) filled in admirably for senior Katie Pushard, who is out for the season after suffering a broken leg in a collision against Georges Valley.

“I still don’t think we’ve recovered from losing Katie,” said Winthrop coach Marc Fortin. “It’s an emotional vacuum, and it doesn’t matter what pep talk I give, it doesn’t work. It’s her leadership. It’s everything. She has been a captain for three years. I never had a sophomore captain in my life until Katie.”

Winthrop has lost three straight games by one goal since a 5-0 win over Carrabec in its opener. Pushard’s absence further complicates the loss of last year’s entire defensive backfield to graduation and transfer.

While the Ramblers couldn’t reverse direction and make any serious offensive runs, Lisbon did it all afternoon with backs Hinckley, Weddle, Emily Moore and Ashley Mason setting the table.

“Their fullbacks were beating our forwards to the ball,” Fortin said. “It was only in the last eight minutes of the game that we were able to do anything with our offense.”

With the exception of a few explosive one-on-one efforts inside the 20-yard line, Lisbon never threatened to expand its lead in the second half. Dunn didn’t need to venture far to make most of her stops.

Winthrop enjoyed one legitimate chance to tie the game with about six minutes left when Erin Belanger lofted the ball to an open Elaine Theriault. Mason made a nifty slide to break up the play, and after the ensuing throw-in, Purcell snuffed out a high, arcing shot by Jen Douglas.

“In a 1-0 game, anything can happen,” Rioux said. “We kind of played at their pace. But it’s a win.”