BETHEL – Senior Liz LeBlanc scored two goals in the first half and the defense came up big numerous times as No .5 Jay recorded a 3-0 upset victory over No. 1 Telstar on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers were not intimidated by the setting and made the most of their limited opportunities. The entire team hustled after every loose ball. This included goalie Sierra Loon (14 saves), who turned in an outstanding performance.

Jay (12-4) will play North Yarmouth Academy or Livermore Falls in the regional final on Tuesday. It’s the farthest the Tigers have advanced since winning the 1999 state championship.

“On any given day, another Mountain Valley Conference team can beat you, and today we got some breaks and the ball bounced our way,” Jay coach Jane DiPompo said. “There were quite a few momentum swings in the game, and I tried using my (two) timeouts, accordingly.”

Telstar, which concludes its season at 14-2, entered the action with a great deal of confidence. The Rebels had beat Jay twice during the last week of the regular season – 3-2 in double overtime and 3-0 in Bethel.

Telstar dominated the flow, but a time out with 10:40 left in the first half changed the complexion of the game. The Tigers offense of Bryndi Richards, Shayna Merserve, Gina Nemi and Katie Hall regrouped and was awarded its first penalty corner. LeBlanc blasted a shot that bounced off the foot of Rebel goalie Brianna Douglass (seven saves). The dagger resulted when LeBlanc scored off a rebound with 2:01 left before halftime.

“The first goal was off a (PC), so I was able to set myself,” LeBlanc said. “On the second, the offense had advanced the ball in. So, I just followed and was able to shove the ball in.”

Telstar had plenty of chances (12 corners) in the first half, but made some costly mistakes, and shots by T.J. Cowin, Amanda Wiley, Felicia Dumont and Whitney Mills couldn’t produce. The ball didn’t reach the top of the circle and any attempt to advance the ball was directed at a Jay player.

“They had too many stick violations,” Telstar coach Gail Wight said. “They didn’t keep their sticks down and too often their passes were hit into the Jay (defense).”

Jay had devised a strategy to double-team Mills and allow the defense to play a zone. The Tigers relied on their rotating defense, led by sweeper Mallory Bonnevie and halfbacks Emily Bolvin, Hillary Chaney and sisters Betsy and Eliza Gemelli. On separate occasions, Boivin and Eliza Gemelli both squared up, keeping sticks down to clear shots away.

“There was a big difference in our play,” Boivin said. “We didn’t let up in the second half, today.”

Hall scored to complete the scoring on LeBlanc’s assist with 1:43 left in the game.