LISBON FALLS

Mountain Valley Conference foes Oak Hill and Lisbon met in a high school girls soccer contest on Monday, the season-finale for both teams, with playoff ramifications on the line.

The Greyhounds fell to the Raiders, 2-1, and Lisbon finished the Mountain Valley Conference season with a 6-8 record, while Oak Hill improved to 8-5-1.

But, Oak Hill, which resides in Western Maine Class B, where only 10 teams make the postseason, is on the outside looking in, currently 11th and needing help to continue its season.

On the other hand, the Greyhounds are likely in the playoffs, sitting in 13th in Western C after the loss, with 13 teams getting in.

Unfair? Not according to Oak Hill coach Nicole Camire.

“A couple of games slid away from us during the season, and it is difficult because we only play one Class B team all year, and we don’t get to earn a lot of points,” said Camire. “So, the ones we do play we need to win, and we didn’t do that against St. Dom’s and Hall-Dale, Monmouth. We played strong in those games, but the ball just didn’t bounce our way.”

“ In Class C West there are more teams that get in, so that is one of the disadvantages for them,” said Lisbon coach Jake Gentle, who remembers the years his Greyhounds were in a similar position in Western B. “We won 10 games one year and barely made the playof fs. It’s really hard. I hope they get in because I think they can make some waves. It’s no prize playing against those Western B schools, that’s for sure.”

Against Lisbon, the Raiders jumped on top with 25: 34 remaining in the first half as Hannah Nadeau gained control of the bouncing ball and chipped a shot past Greyhounds netminder Ally Sult (eight saves).

Lisbon had a few chances, the best a rising shot by Deliah Schrieber that struck the crossbar and stayed out to keep the Raiders in the lead at the half.

“We had a couple shots that didn’t go our way in the first half, and Oak Hill did a good job winning the 50/50 balls,” said Gentle.

Hosts start strong

Lisbon came out strong to begin the second half on Senior Day. Schrieber had two quick shots both gobbled up by Oak Hill goaltender Kelsey Collins (six saves), and a corner kick resulted in a Kailyn Hill header that solidly hit the left post and kicked away.

“Our goalie is thanking the goal-post gods today,” said Camire. “ We played our prevent defense because we knew their seniors were playing for something and were going to come out in the second half and play hard. We knew they would be physical, and Lisbon didn’t quit and was in it to the end.”

“We came out stronger in the second half, and we outshot them, and we hit the post,” said Gentle. “We played better, but still had some spurts where we weren’t winning the 50/50 balls.”

A foul just outside the penalty area resulted in an Oak Hill direct kick. Jamie Prue hooked the ball around the Lisbon wall of Drew Stewart-Staples, Shantal MacWhinnie, Abby Gamache and Jenna Clifford. Sult managed to get her fingers on the shot, but the rebound bounced to Nadeau for her second goal and a 2-0 Raiders lead with 26:41 left.

“This is a big win for us and we really wanted it, tried hard and got it,” said Nadeau, who feels her team deserves a shot in the playoffs. “We are frustrated, but we have tried hard. We connect as a team and we all work hard together. We got it done today and have had a good season. We hope it continues.”

Lisbon received a goal from Schrieber with 43.3 seconds remaining, but Oak Hill, behind solid play from defenders Brooke DuPuy and Toni Pushard- Hart, closed out the 2- 1 win.

Lisbon finished with an 11-10 shots advantage and led in corner kicks 6-5.

Oak Hill 2, Lisbon 1

At Lisbon Falls
Oak Hill –— 1 1 — 2
Lisbon — 0 1 — 1
Goals — (OH) Hannah Nadeau 2; (L)
Deliah Schrieber.
Assist — (OH) Jamie Prue.
Shots — Lisbon 11, Oak Hill 10.
Saves — (OH) Kelsey Collins 6; (L)
Ally Sult 8.
Corner kicks — Lisbon 6, Oak Hill 5.
Records — Oak Hill 8-5-1, Lisbon 6-
8.

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