When St. Dominic Academy took on the Lisbon High School boys soccer team back on Sept. 11, the Saints jumped on top early, 3-0, and survived a Greyhound breakaway-fest in a 5-3 victory.

“I told my guys St. Dom’s was not going to allow us to get three breakaway goals again, and they didn’t,” said Lisbon coach Dan Sylvester after his Greyhounds suffered through a 6-0 regularseason finale defeat at the hands of the Saints on Friday. “We just were not real productive today.”

St. Dom’s coach Martin Bressler used the earlier Mountain Valley Conference win over the ’Hounds as a teaching tool.

“Lisbon really shocked them into the idea that we are not as good as we really are and that we had to work hard,” said Bressler. “Today was a special day for the seniors. They wanted to go out and play their best.”

Once again, St. Dom’s jumped out quickly, taking a 2-0 lead in the first nine minutes. There was no comeback in Lisbon’s future, as the Saints outshot the 5- 8-1 Greyhounds 20-0 in the opening 40 minutes and took a 4-0 edge to the break.

The change to fall

With the temperature falling, leaves blowing across the field, and the wind gusting throughout Friday’s contest, the Saints used possession offense to take firm control.

Bill Soper’s chip sailed above the fingertips of Lisbon goaltender Nate Bergeron 4:54 into the game, and Tyler Furtado finished off a feed from Zak Johnson five minutes later for a 2-0 lead.

“This field gives us a really big advantage with the wind, and as long as we play on the ground we are a tough team to play against,” said Bressler.

“With any team if you go in early, shut them down and get a couple goals on the board, it is hard for anybody to get into the game, something I feel has been part of our success this year,” said Furtado, who made it a 3-0 game on a header off a cross from Eric Link at the midway point of the first half.

“This kind of weather really plays into our strengths, as we are able to keep the ball on the ground and play the possession game.”

Bob St. Hilaire finished off a solid run to give St. Dom’s a commanding fourgoal edge.

Sylvester regrouped his Greyhounds at halftime, with Kyle Whitman firing Lisbon’s first shot on goal early in the second half, the save made by St. Dom’s starting goaltender Ben Sawyer, who had three stops, with Furtado relieving and turning away one Lisbon chance.

“There was nothing we could change about the first half, and we had to come out in the second half and establish ourselves,” said Sylvester.

“We have a prelim game to prepare for, so we have to get back to what we do well,” added Sylvester, whose team is currently eighth in the Western Maine Class C Heal Point Standings.

Goals by Jon Hudson (assisted by Parker Huchey) and TJ Rotolico completed the Saints’ 6-0 victory, leaving St. Dom’s with a 13-0-1 mark.

St. Dom’s finished with a 34-4 edge in shots and held a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Bergeron had 15 saves for Lisbon.

St. Dom’s 6, Lisbon 0

At Auburn
Lisbon — 0 0 — 0
St. Dom’s — 4 2 — 6
Goals — (SD) Bill Soper, Tyler Furtado 2, Bob St. Hilaire,
Jon Hudson, TJ Rotolico.
Assists — (SD) Zak Johnson, Eric Link, Parker Hachey.
Shots — St. Dom’s, 34-4.
Saves — (L) Nate Bergeron 15; (SD) Ben Sawyer 3, Tyler
Furtado 1.
Corner kicks — St. Dom’s, 7-0.
Records — St. Dom’s 13-0-1, Lisbon 5-8-1.
Next — The Saints meet Hall-Dale in the MVC title game on
Wednesday, while the Greyhounds will play in the Western
Maine Class C prelims at a date to be determined.