DIXFIELD — Sophomore Hunter Ross enjoys a challenge.

The speedy Dirigo midfielder used his speed to slip past multiple defenders and score three goals, and the Cougars defense, led by Josh Turbide and Jeremy Briggs, proved to be on its mark in a 3-1 triumph over Telstar at Harlow Park.

Each team entered the important MVC contest with identical records, though Dirigo and Telstar were ranked fourth and seventh respectively in the latest Class C Heal Points.

“This was a big game,” said Ross, who recorded his second hat trick of the season. “Especially after coming off a loss, we needed the win for Heal Points. Our defense really stepped up and provided some good outlet passes.”

Ross scored the opening goal, unassisted, at 16:21 of the first half.

Telstar (5-3-1) received a solid effort from Dan Vaughn, Casey Thornton and Nick Mills, who used their aggressiveness to run down every loose ball and created numerous scoring opportunities. The persistence paid off when Vaughn blew by a defender and drilled the ball past the reach of Dirigo goalie Caleb Turners (eight saves) with 2:21 remaining in the first half.

Dirigo (6-2-1) scored the game-winning goal after a spell of offensive pressure early in the second half. Ross received a pass on the right side and booted a shot past Telstar goalie Rick James (nine saves) with 21:28 left in the game.

The Rebels had tried clearing the zone, but Alex Milledge stopped the ball on the left side and passed ahead to Ross, whose shot rolled along the ground and went a foot inside the left post.

“Getting that second goal was a momentum-buster for us,” Dirigo coach Jack Rioux said.  “But, you really have to give Telstar a lot credit because they took it to us.”

“We certainly had some opportunities,” Telstar coach Greg Luetje said. “We needed to adjust because we were grouping together inn the middle of the field. So, we spread the field out and (Vaughn) hit the cross bar (twice).”

After the Cougars had taken the lead, defenders Garret Carver and Brian Volkernick helped neutralize the Rebels’ attack by getting out on the wings and advancing the ball to the midfield.

“We needed to mark up on defense,” Rioux said. “We had to win the fifty-fifty balls in the air because we couldn’t afford to let them settle.”

Dirigo engineered another breakaway for Ross, who scored his 12th goal of the season with two minutes remaining in the game.