AUBURN — The pressure had been building for St. Dom’s since the 2009 quarterfinals, and the Saints found themselves scurrying through much of the first half of Tuesday’s playoff opener trying to find a release valve which a game Monmouth team wasn’t about to hand over.

Finally, inside the last two minutes of the half, Sophia Goulet found the back of the net, and the Saints could breathe a sigh of relief.

Goulet tallied a goal and an assist and Stephanie Costello and Marley Byrne each added insurance as the top-seeded and unbeaten Saints withstood a sturdy challenge from the physical Mustangs for a 3-0 win in the Western Class C soccer quarterfinals.

“We had the jitters of the first playoff game,” Costello said. “Last year, we had the same thing, but it didn’t end up going as well for us. I know for me, I was frustrated at the beginning, but once (Goulet) got the first goal, I was a lot better. It felt like a lot of frustration just released.”

Last year, the Saints (14-0-1) were an undefeated top seed heading into the quarterfinals when they were upset by Sacopee Valley in overtime.

This year, the young and hungry Mustangs (8-6-2), playing in their first playoff game in four years, presented another challenge.

“I knew Monmouth played a very physical style of game and they were very young,” St. Dom’s coach Kathy Little said. “I knew they played with a lot of heart and grit.”

The Saints outshot the Mustangs, 28-3, and 15-1 in the first half. Most of the shots in the first half went outside a post or over the crossbar, but the ones that were on goal were against a squared-up Kelsie Hilton.

Twenty-five minutes in, they appeared to have finally gotten Hilton out of position when a Saints’ forward beat a diving Hilton to a ball and knocked it loose for Hailey Girardin, who tried to beat the retreating goalie to the far post but shot it wide.

Goulet got the Saints on the board when she pulled back from a defender, set her fee and kicked a ground ball to the far right corner of the net with 1:49 left in the half.

“It was a really tough shot,” Goulet said. “I just had to pick the opposite side.”

“We play tough defense and we don’t back down to anybody,” Monmouth coach Gary Trafton said. “You look at the goals, three goals, and there was one real goal. The girl made a nice little touch and we gave a little too much space and she had time to think and place the ball.”

Costello made it 2-0 11:30 into the second half, taking a pass back from Goulet and booming it in the top shelf.

“I was just waiting for it to come to the top of the box and I knew Sophie would be able to set me up with a good pass,” Costello said. “Once I saw she had it, I just called for it.”

Byrne added the final marker with 14:54 left to play.

“Moving off the ball (was key), and when we relax and settle and play our game, that creates a lot of opportunity for us. When we get caught up in the hype and the kick-and-run, we can’t do that,” Little said.

The Saints will face No. 5 Old Orchard Beach in the semifinals Friday afternoon. For the Mustangs, who beat Madison in the prelims, going two rounds deep in the playoffs was an invaluable experience.

“We played tough and we’ll be back,” Trafton said. “My sweeper (Kristi Hilton) and keeper are the only two seniors. The last two years we’ve won two games, so I’m proud of the girls.”

Copy the Story Link