AUBURN – It could have had all the makings of a disaster, not a potential state championship.

“We lost our all district goalie and a couple of all district defenders,” said Matt Erickson, the boys’ soccer coach at St. Dom’s.

Filling the void were two converted midfielders, a sophomore, a freshman and a goalie with no varsity experience.

Though the Saints were young on defense, Erickson didn’t panic. Dan Ouellette and Cam McKee were midfielders, who had the makings of excellent defenders. Sophomore Garrett Darnell and freshman Danny Street fit that mold as well.

“The sophomore and the freshman were Premier players,” Erickson said. “So, they played year-round. I was familiar with them through Premier, and I knew what their strength was, and that they could play the style I wanted to play this year.”

Goalkeeper Aaron Allen was a question mark, but Erickson figured his abilities as a basketball and baseball player would help in goal.

“Every practice he’s improved and every game he’s improved,” Erickson said. “I’ve been really happy with his development.”

The patchwork defense is the foundation of the Saints’ run to a Western C championship. St. Dom’s plays Madawaska for the Class C title Saturday at Hampden Academy.

The Saints have just three senior starters and don’t have the playoff pedigree of previous St. Dom’s teams. Still, the defense solidified and created a balanced team that has allowed one goal in four playoff games.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” Allen said. “We had two new defenders, with one freshman and one sophomore. I knew being in goal would be a difficult job.”

Early on, the Saints weren’t so formidable in their own end. Allen strayed out of the net too easily. Defenders were scattered. Mistakes were prevalent, and communication was lacking.

Erickson was still confident. He knew the skills existed. It was just a matter of building experience and familiarity.

They won their first six games, including a victory over perennial Class B playoff team Lake Region, and began to build momentum.

“We have confidence in our fellow teammates,” said Ouellette. “We need to trust that they can handle the pressure and handle the ball and know what to do with the ball. That way, the pressure isn’t on just one player.”

Late in the season, the Saints stumbled in losses to Traip, NYA and a 4-1 thumping to Freeport. The team had a meeting and switched up formations.

“We’ve only given up one goal since we switched,” said Ouellette.

The Saints were tested in the postseason. There was a tough overtime win at Mt. Abram and the 2-1 decision at NYA. Allen made a diving save on a penalty kick, and Darnell shadowed Panther sniper Taylor Gorman. The only goal the Saints allowed in the playoffs was a deflection off a Saints’ player.

NYA pressured the Saints’ defense, hitting the crossbar with seconds left in regulation. Sacopee Valley’s aggressive play challenged the Saints, as well, but St. Dom’s remained composed.

“I was surprised that we didn’t get rattled, because we have so many young players,” Allen said. “But we all get along well. We’re all pretty good friends. So playing a game is like playing in practice. We’re loose, and we play better when we’re loose.”

Now the Saints are playing like a unified force. They know little about their opponent Saturday, but have a greater understanding of themselves.

“We’re playing a little tougher and with a little more passion and heart,” said Ouellette. “At the beginning, we were really just depending on our skill, but now we’re combining that with the passion of winning a state championship.”