BETHEL — The ability to respond after dealing with a dose of adversity was on Mountain Valley’s mind Wednesday.

Senior Whitney Ruff was in position and knocked home the winning goal as the Falcons dominated, recording a 2-1 victory over Telstar, completing their first season sweep of the Rebels.

The rematch featured a pair of teams coming off different results. Two days earlier, Telstar scored a goal with seven seconds remaining to beat Dirigo, while the Falcons dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to Spruce Mountain.

Mountain Valley (4-2-1) and Telstar (3-4-3) were tied at one after the first half, but the Falcons asserted pressure and controlled the ball early in the second. Sweeper Sidney Yahn was pressed into action only once during the game.

“These girls know that every game is important,” Mountain Valley coach Melissa Forbes said. “We need every game because we have a (Class) C-laden schedule. There are times when the team might come out playing (tight) and it’s my job to help settle them down and remain focused.”

That opportunity materialized in the second half on yet another front line rush towards the cage. Nicole Burgess carried the ball in on the right and past a pair of halfbacks. A centering pass went through to the far post and Telstar goalie Haili Barter made a kick save. A scramble ensued and Ruff, positioned in the middle of the crease, lifted a shot six inches off the ground past Barters’ right-leg pad, with 23:51 left to play.

“The loss to Spruce Mountain was tough,” Ruff said. “So, I knew that I had to score the goal, in order to position (team) better in the MVC and for the playoffs.”

Mountain Valley midfielders Ayla Allen, Chelsea Bordeau and Lexi Fryover stepped in all game and advanced loose balls directly in to the offensive zone, putting a great deal of pressure on Rebel halfbacks Autum and Mariah Morin and sweeper Hunter Verrill.

“It became very frustrating,” Ruff said. “We had dominated the play, but Telstar had packed everybody back on defense. It was like going through a wall of bodies.”

Telstar reversed the action midway through the first half and advanced the ball in to the circle for their first and only attempt on offense. Kallie Brown fired a shot that was promptly kicked away by goalie Emily Gallant, but the rebound went to Lyndsay Merrill who blasted it home.

“The girls look very good at times,” Telstar coach Gail Wight said. “But, it’s only in spurts. They have yet to sustain it through out an entire half. They were hesitating on defense and not reacting to the ball until Mountain Valley players were going by them.”

The lead proved to be short-lived. The Falcons took full advantage of a Telstar mental lapse. They controlled the tap and found themselves on the doorstep of the cage. Becca Maifeld took a shot that Bordeau tapped over to Payton Provencher near the left post and past Barter, who was unable to rotate into position.