The rematch of last year’s Class A North championship game between Brunswick and Bangor on Tuesday night was just as entertaining as Brunswick’s 2-1 overtime win a year ago.
Two teams with contrasting styles again went to overtime but there was no winner this time as Bangor and Brunswick battled to a 2-2 tie at Cameron Stadium.
It was Bangor’s fourth consecutive tie and left the Rams with a 2-0-4 record while Brunswick is now 4-0-1.
Brunswick freshman standout Molly Tefft tied it with 13:04 left in regulation and the Dragons nearly took their first lead of the game six minutes later but Elysia Palmer’s shot from the top of the penalty area hit the post to the left of Bangor goalie Emma McNeil.
Ashley Schultz had staked Bangor to a 1-0 lead just 12:12 into the game but Alexis Morin equalized 3:11 later.
It took the Rams just 30 seconds to regain the lead when Emmie Streams beat Brunswick goalie Sophia Morin.
The Rams were the more physical team and won most of the 50-50 balls with their relentless tenacity and they also had an edge in possession.
But the speedy Dragons were more dangerous as Morin and Tefft were steadily fed long balls from the back on the counter attack and were able to track some down and create chances with their top-quality skills.
“I was delighted with the way we played. We don’t play well on (artificial) turf. It takes us a while to get into it,” said Brunswick coach Martyn Davison. “We had the better chances but they had a few as well. It was a great game for high school soccer. It could have gone either way.”
Senior defender Schultz snapped Bangor’s scoreless streak at 250 minutes and 18 seconds when she curled in a corner kick into the far corner 12:12 into the game.
Morin, who scored the game-winner in the A North final last year, tied it when Tefft sent her in alone on McNeil and she calmly slotted it past McNeil.
Streams broke the tie when she was set up by Anna Connors in the middle of the penalty area.
“I knew their defenders were going to go to Anna. We like to work give-and-goes and that left me against one defender which made it easier,” said senior midfielder Streams, who bounced off that defender and fired a left-footed shot past Morin.
Pivotal play: Bangor was doing a nice job protecting the lead and creating chances for a third goal but Tefft’s tying goal changed everything and swung the momentum to the visitors.
A long ball came in on McNeil, who came rushing off her line to beat the oncoming Tefft to the ball.
McNeil beat her to the ball but misplayed it and Tefft capitalized by directing it into the empty net.
“I tried to touch it around her but I couldn’t quite do it,” Tefft said. “But the ball slipped out of her hands and flipped over her and I kicked it in.”
McNeil finished with nine saves on 17 shot attempts while Morin made five on 13 attempts.
Tefft had a glittering chance to win it in overtime but Bangor’s Ayzlynn Gifford shouldered her off the ball at the last second to prevent her from shooting.
“Our kids played with a lot of heart. They worked hard and we’re still building into the style that we want. We’re getting there,” said Bangor coach Andrew Varisco.
Big takeaway: There are a few other teams who could challenge Bangor and Brunswick in A North, such as Camden Hills and Mt. Ararat of Topsham, but it would come as no surprise if they met in the final again.
Up next: Bangor hosts Brewer on Thursday at 6 p.m. while Brunswick travels to Camden Hills for a Saturday game at 2 p.m.