ORONO, Maine — Throw-ins can be an effective weapon in soccer.
They certainly were for the Fort Kent High School Warriors on Friday afternoon.
Senior Hailey Nadeau scored off Danielle Pelletier’s throw-in with 44.9 seconds left in overtime to give third seed Fort Kent a 2-1 Eastern Maine Class C semifinal win over No. 2 Orono.
Fort Kent improved to 9-4-3 and will take on the winner of Houlton-George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill in Wednesday’s EM title game.
Orono had beaten Fort Kent 2-1 in double overtime in last year’s EM final.
Orono had a decided edge in possession thanks to the play of dynamic sophomore striker Becky Lopez-Anido and senior attacking midfielder Diana Tyutyunnyk along with sophomore midfielder Brinsley Chasse.
But Pelletier’s throw-ins and Erin Chasse’s corner kicks were problematic for the Riot defense.
In fact, Chasse’s corner kick late in the first half produced Pelletier’s game-tying goal.
Orono had carried the play in overtime but the Warriors received a throw-in along the left sidelines and Pelletier’s strong throw-in skimmed off the head of a Red Riot and skipped into the penalty area.
The ball popped in the air and Nadeau raced on to it and steered it inside the near post past Orono goalkeeper Katelyn Richards from four yards out.
“My throw-ins seem to bounce through the defense,” said Pelletier. “I was just trying to get it in the box and [Nadeau] just happened to be there.”
“The ball went right through [to me]. They have worked for us in other games,” said Nadeau.
“We had trouble defending throw-ins and I don’t know why,” said Orono coach Cid Dyjak. “It was just one of those things.”
The other key to the victory for Fort Kent was senior goalkeeper Alexa Pelletier, who made 13 saves on 26 shots, including several gems.
“That’s the busiest I’ve been all year,” said Pelletier. “I knew I’d be busy. I knew they were going to be our toughest competition. Orono is the best team we’ve played. I think this was my best game of the year.”
“She was amazing,” said Tyutyunnyk. “She had very good reactions. She did an awesome job.”
Fort Kent coach Robby Nadeau called Pelletier an “All-State goalie. I don’t care what the papers say. She has been unbelievable.”
One of Pelletier’s best saves came when Lopez-Anido made one of her several scintillating runs down the flank and slid the ball to the middle of the penalty area, where Tyutyunnyk struck a powerful shot only to see Pelletier make the save and grab it before it crossed the line.
“I wasn’t going to let that ball in. It hit off my leg,” said Pelletier.
Orono opened the scoring at the 22:14 mark of the first half when Tyutyunnyk curled a cross from the left flank to the top of the penalty area, where Lopez-Anido beat the onrushing Pelletier to the ball and headed it past her.
Fort Kent equalized when Erin Chasse’s corner pinballed wildly in front of goal and, after Richards had made a couple of point-blank saves, Danielle Pelletier nudged it home.
“Right moment, right place, right time,” said Pelletier.
Orono nearly forged ahead in the second half when a Tyutyunnyk corner created a scramble in the penalty area. The speedy Lopez-Anido ricocheted a point-blank attempt off the post and the ball came outside the area to Bella DeSisto, whose long shot labeled for the upper far corner was punched away by Pelletier.
“We had our chances but the goalie made some great saves and you have to give credit to Fort Kent,” said Dyjak. “I’m very proud of our girls. It’s hard to see our seniors go.”
Orono loses five seniors but just three were starters. Sophomore Richards made 11 saves on 18 shots for the 12-2-2 Red Riots.