JAY — Spruce Mountain High School senior Jillian Buote hadn’t scored all season, but any level of frustration she might have been feeling disappeared when she scored the game-winning goal Tuesday afternoon.

Buote was in front of the Maine Central Institute net when teammate Hanna St. Pierre slipped the ball over to Boute, who promptly punched in the goal with 3:08 left in the game and gave the Phoenix a 1-0 victory in a Class B girls’ soccer game.

The two teams battled in the warm sunshine and each had ample chances to put the ball in net. There was exasperation on both sides of the field as shots from the Phoenix (2-10) or Huskies (4-7) went wide of the net or were scooped up by two able goalies.

The contest had the look and feel of an overtime game before Buote settled the matter.

“I was beginning to wonder,” Spruce Mountain coach Jon Blaisdell said. “I mean, it was pretty even — a lot of back and fourth.

“We were a little bit better getting to the ball and that probably was difference today. My keeper (Calley Baker) is super. She keeps us in the game.”

Baker frustrated the Huskies, making eight saves against a stubborn MCI team.

On offense, St. Pierre broke away from the pack on several occasions, but her shots were either stopped by MCI goalie Leah Bussell or went wide.

“I was just trying to get it in,” St. Pierre said. “I didn’t care who was there as long as we got a goal because we had four minutes left and we needed to score, but I am happy it was her.

“I feel amazing because it was our second win of the season and we got Jillian a goal for her senior year.”

Timing was every thing, and being at the right place at the right time put Buote in a position to score and end the stalemate.

“I saw Hanna coming going across. I was like, ‘I might as just well be there,’ and it (ball) went in,” Buote said. “I’m ecstatic.’”

And so were the rest of the Phoenix.

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