DIXFIELD — It took some time, but that’s exactly what the Mountain Valley girls’ soccer team needed to get its offense in motion.

Chrissy Briggs recorded a hat trick, but Kristin Ridge scored the eventual winning goal late in the second half as the Falcons received a strong effort in a 4-2 triumph against Dirigo at Harlow Park on Thursday afternoon.

The action-packed contest was played in a driving rain and the deteriorating conditions served to create some choppy play between the two neighboring rivals. Each team spent most of the game shuffling players in and out to try and find the right combinations. There were several scoring opportunities, but both goalies cradled the shots.

Class B Mountain Valley improved to 2-1 after Ridge broke a 2-2 by scoring on a direct kick with 11:25 left in the game. A Cougar violation gave Ridge a free slide-in from the left side, and her high shot eluded the outstretched arms of Dirigo goalie Natasha Deroche and settled in to the right corner of the net.

“I knew this would be a tough game,” Mountain Valley coach Kris Tyler said. “Dirigo has a good program, and I have a lot of respect for them. Plus, I think the rival helps both teams and brings out the best from the players.”

Dirigo (2-1) flooded the zone and tied the score on an unassisted goal by Natalie Bolduc with 23 minutes left to play. Bolduc had controlled the ball, side stepped a defender and booted a high shot past Falcon goalie Breana Roberts (11 saves).

Briggs scored twice to give Mountain Valley a 2-1 lead. The senior forced Deroche (nine saves) out from the net and lofted a high shot with 11:25 left in the first half. Early in the second half, Briggs dribbled on the left side and a hard shot caromed off Deroche in to the left corner.

“We started out slow,” said Briggs, who has scored in the three games and filters the team’ offense. “But once we got going we didn’t back down. This was a big game.”

Dirigo assumed control for a majority of the first half and took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Erin Turner. On the play, Paige Murphy tapped the ball toward the crease 2:32 into the game.

“(In the second half,) we definitely started strong,”Dirigo coach Art Chamberlin said. “But credit Mountain Valley for picking up the pace. We still played well and the game could have went either way. The conditions got worse and Mountain Valley won more 50-50 balls.”

The Falcons’ defense proved to be solid with Lacey Gallant, Hannah Daigle and new sweeper Autumn Koch. The Cougars’ Ambyr Wilson and Kayla Gaudin stood out in the backfield.

Briggs scored an insurance tally on an assist by Kaitlyn Virgin.