RUMFORD — It was a goal that sent a message in a hurry.

For a St. Dom’s girls’ soccer team that has never lost a Mountain Valley Conference game let alone trailed in many, Saturday’s early deficit was an eye-opener.

“We haven’t really been losing in a game this year so far,” said senor midfielder Sophie Goulet. “I’m not sure the team knew how to take that.”

The unbeaten Saints eventually responded and tied the game by halftime and dominated the second half in a 2-1 win over Mountain Valley. Taylor Paquet and Stephanie Costello each scored for the Saints (5-0).

“We woke up and started playing our game at the tail-end of the first half,” said St. Dom’s coach Kathy Little, whose team was ranked third in Western C and hosts top-ranked Dirigo on Tuesday. “I think it was a wake-up call when they scored that first goal. We weren’t ready to play at the get go.”

Kirstin Ridge had the lone goal for the Falcons (3-3). She epitomized the day for Mountain Valley. She scored 2:10 into the game but then was in and out of the lineup with an injury. The Falcons were down two starters to start the game, with Tia White and Hannah LaPointe both out with injuries. Then Ridge, Jamaica Ford, Kelcie Virgin and Lindsay Gallant were all banged up and hampered by injuries at one point in the game.

“I thought we played a solid game,” said Mountain Valley coach Kris Tyler, whose club was in the top five in the current Western B standings. “I’m down five starters right now for injuries. For my bench to step in, I brought a few up from JV for this game, and they stepped in and I thought they really handled themselves well. We tried. I think it really hurt us being down five starting players.”

That was especially the case in the midfield. Without Ridge and LaPointe in the middle, the Saints were able to take control. When Goulet and Costello were able to possess and feed the attack upfront, it had the Falcons on their heels. Mountain Valley wore down in the second half and didn’t muster a shot on goal.

“Usually Steph and I are the commanders out there,” said Goulet. “We usually just tell everyone how to move. Once we start moving, everyone else starts moving. It just gels together for us. We were all on the same page.”

Ridge’s early goal was a bit of a stunner and caught a lackluster Saints team off guard. She booted a ball from the midfield. It took a solid bounce in front of the goalmouth. When Saints keeper Mary Caron tried to play it over her head, it slipped out of her hands and into the net.

The Falcons kept up the attack and had a few more chances to add to the lead. McKenzie Patterson had a couple of bids and Shannon Laubauskas had a try that Caron saved.

The Saints struggled to get its game in motion but late in the half, St. Dom’s began to put it together.  Dayle Jordan, Kelley McLellan and Costello all had shots that had the Saints knocking on the door. Then with 4:18 left, Paquet made one count. She pounced on a loose ball in front and chipped it in.

“For some reason or another, we were asleep in the first half,” said Goulet. “That goal that Taylor put in in the first half really lit a fire under our butts. We said: ‘OK, we’re tied. Now we can do it. We can push forward.'”

The Saints controlled most of the play in the second half, outshooting the Falcons 9-0. Costello and Goulet were able to control the ball in the midfield and distribute it to players on the wing, producing consistent pressure on the Falcons defense. Mountain Valley keeper Breana Robert was kept busy with seven or her 12 saves in the second half.

“We were moving off the ball and communicating,” said Little, whose team went 12-0-2 in the MVC last year and then won the conference championship. “When we do that, our game opens up. When we don’t do that, we’re just passing to anybody.”

It didn’t take the Saints long to turn the play into the lead goal 7:03 into the second half. Goulet had the ball in the right corner and set up Costello in front. She drilled a nice shot inside the left post.

“It was Taylor’s goal that did it,” said Goulet. “She brought out the intensity. We all said ‘She’s working her butt off. So now we have to work our butts off.’ We’re a team, and we needed to work together.”

The Falcons tried to mount a comeback but couldn’t produce much pressure on the Saints defense. Patterson had a nice cross from the corner with six minutes left, but Caron was there to intercept.

“My girls came to play, and I really emphasized to them how happy I was with the way the bench stepped up,” said Tyler. “I knew this was going to be a tough game, and the girls were pumped for it. I’m really pleased with how they played today.”

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