By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

SALEM – Logahn Walker has a knack for scoring at the most opportune moments.

Thursday, the Mt. Abram junior forward was right on time once again.

Walker’s goal midway through the second half helped lift the Roadrunners to a 1-0 victory over St. Dom’s in a Western C semifinal game. Mt. Abram advances to the regional final against North Yarmouth Academy Saturday.

“It seems every time she scores a goal, it ends up tying the game or winning the game,” said Mt. Abram coach Marc Keller.

Walker had eight goals in the regular season and has all three of the Roadrunners tallies in the playoffs.

Mt. Abram (13-2-1) shoots for its first regional championship since 1993.

“We knew that this year, we had physically prepared for this,” said Walker, whose team lost in the semis to NYA last fall. “We knew we could be better. We have a team that’s together, and we’re so close. We wanted to go all the way this year.”

Mt. Abram lost seven starters and 11 players overall, including its entire defense. Still, the Roadrunners have been stellar in front of keeper Briana Wilkins.

“We were really new,” said Keller. “We’re young. There’s two freshmen starting outside in the back. Our sweeper has never played her position before this year. The stopper was our sub last year off the bench. We lost four starters (on defense). You don’t expect to have that kind of performance out of four new girls. All year, I’ve been waiting for the young mistake, and it just hasn’t happened.”

St. Dom’s (9-6-1) had the early advantage with some speed and skill up front but couldn’t produce quality chances. Most shots came from the outside.

“We just weren’t there to follow up or put on any pressure on their keeper when the balls were sent in,” said St. Dom’s coach Kathy Little. “We didn’t pressure their keeper on any shots, except the last couple of minutes.”

The Saints were playing without senior forward Autumn Bell. She had the game-winner against top-ranked Georges Valley but suffered an eye injury.

“We just played our game,” said Little. “She was out for a week and a half during the regular season. That didn’t change the team’s spirit. She’s a great asset to the team, but they already knew they could do it without her.”

Despite, the Saints early pressure, defender Stephanie Coburn cleared out most balls and got support from Rebecca Fullerton, Rachel Fullerton and Kylie Shaw.

Heather Hayes and Emma Coffin anchored a solid midfield and helped set up the game-winner with 20:02 left. Hayes won the ball on the left side and moved it to Coffin in the middle. She steered it to an open Walker on the right wing. She walked in alone on Katie Lyon and put a shot into the left side of the net.

“I’m left-footed anyway,” said Walker. “So I knew I could probably put it past her. I knew I didn’t have to put it fast by her. If I had leaned back, it would have gone over. So I knew I had to touch it past her. She’s kind of tall. So I wanted to keep it on the ground.”

The Saints tried to rally in the closing minutes. An Erynne Landry throw to Katelyn Bermudez was cleared out by the defense. Lisa Navojosky raced Wilkins to a loose ball but didn’t reach it. Laura Robitzek had a shot blocked that led to a corner by Heidi DeHaan that went over the net.