RICHMOND — The odds were stacked against the fourth-seeded Rangeley High School girls’ soccer team when it traveled to top-seeded Richmond on Saturday for a Class D South semifinal.

The Bobcats blew past Rangeley twice during the regular season, 12-0 and 7-0.

Things went about the same way in the Saturday rain, the Bobcats rolling to a 7-0 win to advance to the Class D South regional final on Wednesday.

Meranda Martin struck for Richmond’s first goal just 2:43 into the game, and Martin continued to pour in the goals, adding two more by the midway point of the half. In all, Martin had four goals and assisted on two more.

“On a poor field after a near two-week layoff, it was nice to come out and just kind of pounce,” said Richmond (14-1) coach Troy Kendrick. “I was pleased with the effort today.”

Martin knew her team needed to put the previous two meetings with Rangeley behind them.

“Coach wrote the scores on the board from the first two games and said this is the third game with Rangeley and it is hard to beat a team three times in a row during a season,” said Martin. “We needed to come out here mentally prepared to play.

“We had a meeting on Friday because you really couldn’t do anything outside in the rain or in the gym, so we wanted to come out and pound a few in. We played really well, considering the field conditions.”

Martin’s first goal was unassisted, and Abby Johnson set up Martin’s goal with 25:40 remaining in the opening half.

Five minutes later Destiny Anair’s corner kick was headed past Rangeley goaltender Michaela Shorey by Martin, and Anair passed to Johnson for a goal with 1:06 remaining until halftime for a 4-0 lead.

“The cream always rises to the top, and today Meranda did that well,” said Kendrick of Martin. “She stepped to the front for us, just like we expect her to. The kids did a good job in finding her. We had some good changes of field, good switches with a lot of green shirts back there. We showed good poise and patience.”

“It was a battle just coming into this game, as we start two eighth-graders, two freshmen and two sophomores, plus playing Richmond, a team that is always well-balanced; it was tough,” said Rangeley coach Chip Smith, whose Lakers finished 8-5-3. “No one expected us to be here. I am proud of the way this team battled this year.”

Richmond put the game away with three goals in the first four minutes of the second frame. Martin scored her fourth off an assist by Ashley Brown, and Caitlin Kendrick tallied two quick goals from Martin to complete the scoring.

In goal, Shorey had 16 saves in the loss, while Richmond goaltender Sydney Tilton was forced to make just one stop, a low shot by Mary-Page Swiney midway through the first half.

Richmond hosts the semifinal winner between Searsport and Buckfield on Wednesday in the Class D South regional final.

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