WALES — About a week ago, the Oak Hill girls’ soccer team hit the reset button on the season.

The Raiders started this fall 0-4 and had faced some formidable foes in Lisbon, Monmouth, Mt. Abram and St. Dom’s.

After that challenging start, Oak Hill knew it had to put those tough losses behind it and move forward.

The Raiders did that with a win over Winthrop last Thursday and followed that up Monday with another victory. Oak Hill rallied to beat Carrabec 3-1 for a second straight win.

“We need it,” Oak Hill coach Nicole Camire said. “We started the season against some very tough opponents. We needed it to raise the confidence and get their spirits up. When we were 0-4, I told them ‘The season starts today.’ They’ve capitalized and took advantage.”

The Raiders (2-4) got goals from Hannah Nadeau, Sydney Drew and Jamie Prue. Freshman keeper Anna Dodge made 13 saves in a fine outing.

“We really wanted this one,” said Nadeau, a sophomore forward, who scored the tying goal. “We’re really excited. I’m proud of us. We did really good today.”

Paige Chadbourne had the lone goal for Carrabec (1-5). The Cobras  scored just 2:10 into the game but couldn’t add to the lead in dropping their fifth straight game.

“We definitely stepped it up,” said Drew, a freshman forward, who netted the game-winner. “We definitely didn’t want to lose. We knew we could beat them. So we made sure we were first to the ball.”

The Raiders had lost two of their first four games by just one goal and were beaten by just two in another. After a 6-0 win over Winthrop, Oak Hill watched the Cobras take the lead early. Chadbourne took a pass from Mickayla Willette and made a rush on the left side and put a shot in off the crossbar.

“That happens sometimes,” Nadeau said. “We just needed to pick ourselves up and not give up.”

The Raiders began playing better and started getting some pressure up front. Then with 21:16 left in the half, Nadeau won the ball in the midfield and burst by the defense for a breakaway. She beat Carrabec keeper Lexie Cowan inside the right post.

Oak Hill had some chances late in the half. Brittany Marquis had a shot deflected wide and Nadeau had a bid off a loose ball go wide. Carrabec threatened to end the half when Liberty Chestnut hit the crossbar on a free kick.

In the second half, the Raiders produced a consistent attack and got opportunities from Prue and Charlotte Waterman early on. Carrabec had a good couple of chances by Samantha Lebeau.

“At halftime, I told them they were playing a bit flat,” Camire said. “I thought they needed to pressure the ball a little more. I’m really happy that they recovered and stepped it up the second half. We definitely needed that.”

Drew broke the tie with 14:34 left. After a tripping foul gave the Raiders a free kick on the defensive side of midfield, Toni Pushard-Hart put the kick behind the defense. Drew rushed past a surprise group of Cobras defenders and was in alone. She still had much of the field to outrun the Carrabec players but raced in on the goal unimpeded.

“Toni was taking a direct kick,” Drew said. “I was hoping it would go over because I really wanted to have a breakaway, and I did. I didn’t know where they were. I was just thinking about getting the ball to the goal.”

When Drew got within shooting range, Cowan charge at her and cut off some of her angle. The freshman still managed to put a nice chip up and over the keeper for the goal.

“I was trying to aim for the far post,” Drew said. “It just barely made it over her glove.”

Carrabec had a chance with nine minutes left when Chestnut had a direct kick that Dodge saved.

Then with 7:50 remaining, the Raiders added to the lead. Bree Ivy crossed it from the right side. Prue was in front to steer it home.

“They’re getting their timing down,” said Camire. “That’s what we’ve really tried to focus on with the forwards, getting that timing down so they can one-time it into the net.”

kmills@sunjournal.com