DIXFIELD — A goal by Tyler Gates gave Dirigo a lead, but it was short-lived as Mt. Abram’s Caulin Logan scored 30 seconds later and the two teams battled scoreless through two overtimes to finish in 2-2 tie at Harlow Park on Monday.

The contest had important playoff implications for both squads. Dirigo (12-0-2) and Mt. Abram (9-4-1) were ranked second and sixth respectively in the Class C Heal Points prior to Monday’s action. The tie temporarily lifted the Roadrunners a spot, but Dirigo remains in limbo pending the outcome of Tuesday’s games. Dirigo will play St. Dom’s in the Mountain Valley Conference championship Wednesday at a site yet to be determined.

“We wanted to come out strong in the second half,” Dirigo coach Dennis Hanson said.

The Cougars beat the Roadrunners 1-0 last month.

“Instead, the defense settled back and we played not to lose, like our game against Wiscasset,” Hanson added.

The pair of five-minute overtimes were played fast and furious, but the goalies each held their turf. Mt. Abram senior Josh Beedy (10 saves) foiled bids by Eric Bolduc and Cliff Turner, Dirigo sophomore Caleb Turner (eight saves) cradled a shot by Devin Littlefield.

“We attacked in the overtimes,” Mt. Abram coach Mark Lopez said. “I had thought about settling back for the tie, but we had nothing to lose by going for the win. These are two evenly-matched teams.”

Dirigo had drawn first blood on a Cliff Turner goal, 12 minutes in to the first half. Turner corralled the ball on the left side, sidestepped a defender and booted the ball high in to the far corner.

Mt. Abram came from behind twice in the second half. The first goal came early on a Jim Barker strike to knot the game at one on an unassisted tally to the far top corner.

“In the first half we had been letting them get behind us,” Lopez said. “We did a better job in the second half of stepping in front and (the midfielders) were able to slow Dirigo’s counterattack.”

The Cougars again grabbed the lead on a beautiful goal by Gates, who stopped the ball on the left sideline, faked a defender and booted it inside the far post.

The Roadrunners controlled the ensuing tap, and Logan scored from 12 yards out just 30 seconds later to even things up.

The Cougars then created a rush and Gates nudged the ball past the goalie, but Kyle Matthews rotated back to clear the ball away.

“We made some mental mistakes,” Hanson said. “But the team won 12 games and no one expected it. Another goal was to make the playoffs and we had three freshmen on the field.”