AUBURN — Take a smart, skilled and hard-nosed player out of your lineup and see how you do.

That’s what the St. Dom’s boys’ soccer team faced last year. Early in the fall campaign defender Garrett Darnell was injured. He was lost for the season. As talented as the Saints were, it was a significant loss.

“He doesn’t make mistakes,” said St. Dom’s coach Matt Erickson. “He’s a very smart player and very skilled. That combination is tremendous to have as a coach.”

Darnell’s absence may have been as significant to St. Dom’s not reaching the state championship game last fall as his presence has factored in the Saints appearance in the Class C title game today. Darnell not only brought his skill and determination to the field but also brought leadership and motivation fueled by last year’s disappointment.

“It’s been a long road,” said Darnell. “Just watching them last year gave me motivation this year to push to states. I knew we had a good chance last year to win. After I dropped out, it took a key defender out of our back, and we struggled to keep goals out of the net.”

Darnell only played five games last year. He was tackled from behind and tore his ACL. It left him on the sidelines watching his team reach the Western C semifinals and lose a heartbreaker to Waynflete.

“It was hard watching it from the bench and not being able to do anything,” said Darnell.

In addition to coming back from injury, Darnell was also adjusting to a new position this year. It’s been an adjustment but a move that Darnell has excelled at and the Saints have benefited from.

“I’ve been stepping up to play midfield this year which is a lot different than what I’ve been playing the last three years,” said Darnell. “It’s a whole different look in the field. I had to adapt to it.”

Knowing there was a void left in the Saint’s midfield after graduation, Darnell began playing the position this summer. That allowed him to not only get his knee 100 percent but also feel comfortable in a new role.

“It took awhile to get used to it,” he said. “You have to be physical. You have to pass. You have to do a lot of different things at the midfield. It’s not just always defending and clearing it.”

Darnell has had great supporting cast around him both up front and in back. The Saints have scored 85 goals this season and allowed just six, posting 12 shutouts in 17 games.

“He’s had a great year,” said Erickson. “It’s been key. He’s a leader. All the kids look up to him. We count on him. I know I do, but the other kids do too. He’s very solid.”

Erickson points out Darnell’s play Wednesday in the 2-0 win over North Yarmouth Academy. The Saints settled into their style of play in the second half and did a fine job of possessing and moving the ball around. NYA had little chance of mounting a comeback.

“He’s such a smart player,” said Erickson. “Two goals up, even though he’s a central middie, without me telling him, he drops back and plays a defensive midfield. There’s not anybody in the state better than him in that position, in my opinion.”

Claiming the Western C title with that win was a meaningful achievement. Darnell was on the team in 2007 that won the Class C state title in Hampden, and he’s thrilled to have that opportunity again against Fort Kent Community School.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I remember watching the loss to Waynflete. I couldn’t believe it. This year, we had to push harder, and I had to push harder knowing that happened last year. I didn’t want it to happen again. I want to get it down this year.”

Saint Dom’s Garrett Darnell.