BRUNSWICK – The Messa-lonskee High boys’ soccer team faced its postseason nemesis Saturday for the third time in four seasons.

And for the third time, the result was the same.

Mitchell Black scored off a header with 21:08 remaining and Brunswick made the goal stand for a 1-0 victory in an Eastern Class A semifinal.

“We didn’t finish and they did,” Jacob Erskine of Messalonskeesaid.

“The game went back and forth. It was a 50-50 game, but they got a break and put it away.”

Third-ranked Brunswick (13-3) will meet top-seeded Bangor (15-0-1) in the regional final Wednesday.

Seventh-ranked Messalonskee, which upset No. 2 Lewiston in the quarterfinals, finished 8-7-1.

“It’s a little heartbreaking,” Messalonskee Coach Tom Sheridan said. “One goal like that, it’s tough. Unfortunately we just couldn’t find the net.”

Brunswick, which also ended Messalonskee’s season in the semifinals in 2007 and 2008, prevailed when Black headed a shot past Messalonskee keeper Zach Sutherland off a free kick.

Garrett Brann took the free kick from about 40 yards and sent a well-placed ball to Black.

“We got a good spot for the free kick,” Black said. “I was playing the near post and when I got it, I flicked it toward the net, thinking someone else may get a head on it, too. But then I saw it go in.”

Added Sutherland, who finished with 11 saves: “When the shot came over I went to go punch it out. But (Black) got there before I did and he got it. He put it just over my fingertips. I couldn’t do anything about it. It was a good shot.”

Brunswick controlled most of the action thanks to a fluid possession game. The Dragons applied constant pressure and generated an abundance of scoring chances.

Just two minutes into the game, Brunswick senior back Beau Gaughran gained possession about 20 yards out and ripped a shot that went just wide.

With 2:30 left in the half, Gaughran dribbled toward the top of the box and sent a high shot toward the far corner that sailed just over the crossbar.

Brunswick junior midfielder Will Brann also had a great chance in the first half. He took a pass from Garrett Brann inside the box, turned toward the goal and then fired a shot that clanged off the crossbar.

“We had our opportunities,” Black said. “We couldn’t put them away.”