ORONO, Maine — After scoring just 1:12 into the game, it took the top-seeded Orono High School girls soccer team nearly 31 minutes to expand its lead against a well-organized Bucksport High School defense in their Class C North championship game on Wednesday afternoon.
It was the dynamic tandem of Becky Lopez-Anido and Norwegian exchange student Aashild Fridtun that produced the all-important second goal as the Red Riots triumphed 5-0 for their second regional Class C title in three years.
Lopez-Anido and Daphne Murphy each had a pair of goals and an assist and Fridtun had a goal and two assists for the 15-1-1 Red Riots, who will take a seven-game winning streak into Saturday’s state Class C championship game in Presque Isle against No. 6 Waynflete of Portland (13-4).
In 2013, Waynflete rallied to beat Orono 3-2 in double overtime for the state title.
No. 6 Bucksport had its five-game winning streak snapped and wound up 7-7-4.
Junior striker Murphy capitalized on a Bucksport miscue to stake Orono to a 1-0 lead but the Golden Bucks, who rarely got the ball over midfield, did a thorough job creating layers of defense.
Lopez-Anido finally broke through with 7:50 left in the half when Fridtun fed a nice through ball to her.
“I saw the open space, I called for the ball and Aashild made a perfect pass,” said Lopez-Anido, who used her quickness and nifty foot skills to break free and beat goalkeeper Bree Coombs with a low 10-yard shot past Coombs’ left.
“That hurt us a lot,” said Bucksport coach Mike Garcelon. “That meant we had to take chances to score a goal in the second half and when we did that, that allowed them to exploit us more.
“The better team won today. They were more skilled and more poised,” added Garcelon.
“They were really quick,” said Bucksport junior stopper Emma Bennett. “They’re smart, they pass well and they’re aggressive.”
Orono coach Cid Dyjak, whose team attempted 41 shots to Bucksport’s one, said his team played “really well. They didn’t overlook a team that had come on very well at the end.”
Murphy’s opening goal came about when a Bucksport defender stumbled on the ball when she tried to clear it. Murphy spun around, spied the loose ball and swept it past Coombs.
“My job is to crash the goal looking for loose balls,” said Murphy.
Fridtun extended the lead to 3-0 2:27 into the second half when she finished off a well-executed passing sequence also involving tireless midfielder Brinsley Chasse and Murphy.
Murphy slid it ahead to Fridtun, who sprinted down the right side and blasted a powerful 14-yard shot into the far corner off Coombs’ hands.
Lopez-Anido made it 4-0 with a low 16-yard shot off a Fridtun pass and Murphy capped the scoring after Fridtun chested a Lopez-Anido cross into her path.
“They were a lot more organized than they were in our regular season games (6-1, 4-0 wins). They made it more difficult. We had to work hard together and get passes to feet,” said Lopez-Anido.
Dyjak said Riots junior midfielder Lizzie White was “spectacular. She won balls everywhere and passed really well.”
Coombs finished with 11 saves and Bennett, sweeper Emily Hunt and back Makenzie Smith turned in impressive performances for the Bucks.