BATH – Christina Stuart scored twice, and Bess Howell added a goal and an assist as top-seeded Morse beat fourth-seeded Maranacook 3-1 in a Western Class B girls’ soccer semifinal Saturday.

Stuart scored the first and last goals for the Shipbuilders (16-0), but Howell’s was huge, coming just 1:40 before halftime with Morse nursing a 1-0 lead.

“Absolutely,” said Morse Coach Steve Boyce. “We played well until the first goal and then we kind of lost focus. But (Howell’s) goal brought us back, and just at the right time before the half.”

Tori Field drilled a 25-yard shot that was leg-blocked by the defense, but it went right to Howell, who sent it in to make it 2-0.

“That goal was really all about Tori’s first shot, and that’s the way our team is,” said Howell. “We give a consistent team effort; you can’t just focus on one player. They were trying to mark Tori real close and that means someone else will be open.”

With 6:53 to go, Stuart scored her second goal, taking a pass from Howell in the middle and nailing the top left corner from 35 yards on the right.

“I do aim for that spot,” Stuart said. “I like to try to drop it down just over the goalie and under the crossbar.”

Clough answered for Marana-cook (10-4-3) on a penalty kick with 5:01 left.

Stuart one-timed a Henrikson feed into the far top for Morse’s first goal.

 

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