DIXFIELD – For its first playoff game in five years, Dirigo looked right at home and did not show any playoff jitters.

Eric Bolduc and Jeff Willis each scored two goals as Dirigo made a statement with a 7-4 in over Carrabec at Harlow Park Wednesday afternoon.

Dirigo had defeated Carrabec in the season opener, but the rematch developed into a shootout. Dirigo seized the momentum by scoring the game’s first five goals.

“We needed to come out and play hard,” Dirigo wing Wesley Gagnon said. “Coach had warned us about letting our inexperience in the playoffs not to stop us. We went ahead early and that was the difference for us.”

No. 7 Dirigo (9-4-2) advances to play Georges Valley in a quarterfinal game on Saturday.

Bolduc opened the scoring, by connecting on a Gagnon crossing pass 3:50 into the game. The Cougars maintained the pressure and put several shots on net.

Willis charged the crease and shot into an open net. Carrabec goalie Alex Neill had tried making a save, but the ball bounced off his hands and Willis side-stepped him.

“The fast start really surprised me,” Dirigo coach Dennis Hanson said. “I really believe it was a result of the confidence that the team gained in our (regular-season finale) against Telstar. We hadn’t scored more than four goals in a game, so to score seven against a team like Carrabec is a credit to our players.”

Jon Smith later headed in a ball at 21:48.

Carabec could not generate any offense because Cougar defenders Alex LeBlanc, Adam Law, Eric Kersey and Archie Ray each hustled after loose balls.

“Our outside middies were playing defense,” Carrabec coach Scooter Gleason said. “This was disappointing because of the way Dirigo had been playing and we had improved so much. We had expected to have a better showing.”

Dirigo scored two goals in a 90-second span to go ahead 5-0. Tyler Gates set up Brett Staples and Colby Knapp booted-in an attempted clear.

Carrabec broke through on a rebound shot by Justin Cummings, late in the first half. The Cobras scored again, on a Nick Manzer header 40 seconds into the second half. But goals by Bolduc and Willis gave Dirigo some breathing room.

“Eric Bolduc has really stood out,” Hanson said. “He’s a freshman and the week off helped him heal up.

Nik Caldwell scored the final two goals, including a penalty kick with one second left.

“We came out and played hard,” Bolduc said. “Our expectations was to win and the scoreboard says it all.”

Cougar goalie Josh Saphier made 10 saves.