RUMFORD — There are times when things simply don’t work right, and Mountain Valley found that out first hand Monday.

A fast start proved to be the difference as Hall-Dale scored three goals in the first half to earn a 3-0 win over the Falcons. The Bulldogs deployed a strong, skillful passing game that produced plenty of scoring opportunities. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mountain Valley spent time scrambling to get into position.

The Falcons, who had one win and a record seven ties last year, remain in contention for a playoff berth.

“We started out flat,” Mountain Valley coach Kris Tyler said. “We just were not going after the ball and it gave Hall-Dale opportunities because they (settled) and were able to dictate (the flow) of the game.”

Hall-Dale (7-0-1) drew first blood when Kelsey Ladner scored on a rebound 10:13 into the game. Falcons keeper Kaitlin Armstrong had saved a shot, but Ladner was positioned inside the right post to tuck it home.

Carylanne Wolfington scored on a feed by Aimee Pelletier at 16:35 to make it 2-0.

“They lean to a challenge,” Hall-Dale coach Guy Cousins said. “This team will not shirk away from its responsibilities. We like to pass the ball around and it normally takes four to five passes to set some thing up.”

Mountain Valley had chances on a header by Ellen Thorne, and on hustling play by Lindsay Gallant, who hit the side of the net. A shot by Kate Thorne was saved by Bulldogs goalie Anna Levesque.

Hall-Dale’s next goal came as the ball deflected off a Falcon defender and Armstrong couldn’t grab it. Sara Price nudged it in the goal.

“We took a lot of shots,”Cousins said. “But, we were also able to take advantage of defensive mistakes.”

In the second half, the momentum changed a bit as the Falcons changed strategies, choosing to run after balls on long kicks. Forwards Chrissey Briggs, McKenzie Parr, Hillary Dolloff and Jamaica Ford each had chances, but the Bulldog defense cleared the zone.

“At halftime, I tried conveying a few things too the girls,” Tyler said. “So, it wasn’t so much that we had to make adjustments, but we needed to go to the ball.”

The Falcons used goalie Breana Roberts in the second half.

“This is a disappointing loss,” Tyler said. “We’ve been having a good season, but we will learn from this.”