DIXFIELD — Four different players scored goals, two in each half, as Dirigo remained undefeated with a 4-1 boys’ soccer victory against Mountain Valley at Harlow Park.

The score was hardly indicative of the action. Each team had scoring chances, but the respective defenses stepped forward to disrupt the flow. The Falcons had stunned Dirigo, 2-1, last October.

“The guy’s kept their composure,” Dirigo coach Dennis Hanson said.  “They didn’t allow themselves to fall in to a trap, like what happened last when we took ourselves (mentally) out of games.”

Dirigo (4-0) scored the eventual winning play when Tyler Gates received a pass, let it bounce off his chest on to the ground and booted the ball past Falcons goalie Kyle Gauvin. Cougar sophomore Cody St. Germain had intercepted a pass and led Gates with a floater with 5:39 remaining in the first half.

  Mountain Valley (2-2) immediately came back and flooded the offensive zone with strikers Dylan Mawhinney and Austin Glover. They were awarded a free hit at the 16-yard line, and Dirigo’s wall blocked the shot, but the ball bounced out to Yago Ceballos, who kicked an arching shot that beat Cougar sophomore goalie Caleb Turner (eight saves).

“It was a very high-spirited game,” Mountain Valley coach Jarrod Dumas said. “It was important, and it was all about controlling the ball. I thought Dennis (Hanson) did a great job of keeping his guys settled and focused.”

Dirigo opened the scoring when Cliff Turned poked in a rebound at 12:11. The play began with an Eric Bolduc blast that bounced off the crossbar on the right side.

“We were able to contain Bolduc and Tyler Gates,” Dumas said. “But, eventually they got loose.”

Dirigo stayed aggressive and its conditioning proved crucial with solid performances by defensemen Jeremy Remeika and St. Germain. Freshmen Chad Snowman, T.J. Frost and Hunter Ross each stepped up. Mountain Valley was hindered when Gavin was injured and left the game midway through the second half. The Cougars responded with Snowman (header) and Bolduc (penalty kick) scoring on first-year goalie David Widger.

“We knew this was a big game,” Turner said. “It was Important for us to come out and score first and we did that. Plus, coach kept reminding us to stay in control.”