Bangor High School senior goalkeeper Emily Caulkins didn’t have a lot to do over the final 30 minutes of Tuesday night’s soccer game against arch-rival Brewer as her teammates spent most of that time in and around the Brewer penalty area seeking an insurance goal to build on their 1-0 lead.
Despite several good opportunities, the Rams couldn’t get that insurance goal but Caulkins made sure the one goal was enough by making an outstanding diving save on Rylee Bailey’s well-placed shot from the right wing with 55 seconds remaining as Bangor improved to 3-1.
Brewer fell to 2-3.
Bangor attempted 41 shots to Brewer’s 12.
Caulkins finished with four saves and Brewer junior goalkeeper Lily Clark also shone as she wound up with nine stops.
Bailey, Brewer’s leading scorer, was able to break free down the right flank and launch a shot labeled for the top far side corner from just inside the penalty area.
Caulkins went airborne to her right to snare the ball and then hang into it after hitting the ground.
“I’ve played with Rylee Bailey and I kind of know her style,” said Caulkins. “I know where she likes to put the ball.”
“Emily is awesome,” said standout Bangor senior back Gabby Spreng. “I’ve played with her in the spring and the fall since eighth grade. She makes really clutch saves. She has my back.”
“Emily made a couple of great saves,” said Brewer coach Phil Turmelle.
The defending two-time state Class A champion Rams received a fortuitous first-half goal from sophomore midfielder Callen Pooler, whose cross from the left wing hit a Witch defender and wrong-footed Clark.
Clark was sidling over to her left following the path of the ball but it hit her defender in the middle of the penalty area and rolled to Clark’s right and into the net with 11:51 remaining in the half.
Brewer generated some chances early in the second half and Caulkins came up with a good save off another opportunity from the right flank, this one by Brayleigh Judkins.
Bangor first-year coach Nick Christensen switched from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation in the second half after losing the services of speedy All-New England, All-KVAC and All-Northern Region Class A center back Jo Jo Clukey, who became ill at halftime after providing a stellar first-half performance.
Brewer had its best stretch over the first 10 minutes of the second half but then the Rams got used to the formation and dominated possession, winning most of the 50-50 balls through their aggressive ball pressure and keeping the Witches pinned in their half of the field.
“The 3-5-2 provided us with more people being able to step up on the wing and that made my shift easier,” said Spreng, who was a calming presence in the back.
“We had to make some adjustments. We changed our formation in the second half and had to settle in a little bit,” said senior midfielder Kyelin Atherley. “I know there were a lot of nerves but then we just started playing better and connecting better.
“We had a bunch of chances and, unfortunately, none of them went in. But we still took away the win,” Atherley added.
Midway through the second half, Bangor junior striker Ella Molinero outmuscled a defender to break in on Clark but sailed her shot high and wide. Later in the half, her rising shot from the top of the penalty area rattled off the crossbar.
Clark made a top-quality diving save off Pooler, who received a nice through ball from Olivia Huang, and she also made a good stop off Huang.
Atherley had a chance from the top of the 18-yard box off a Huang feed but sailed her shot wide.
“It was a hard-fought game from both sides. I’m happy we came out on top,” said Christensen. “We moved the ball well. We’ve got to take care of our chances a little better next time.”
“They’re definitely a really good team. They moved the ball really well,” said Turmelle. “We had some opportunities and we have to capitalize more. (Bangor) definitely turned it up in the second half. We have to pressure the ball more.”
Bangor was without talented senior midfielder Gabby Gordon (knee injury).
The Rams will entertain Messsalonskee of Oakland on Thursday at 6 while Brewer will host Mt. Blue of Farmington on Saturday at 11 a.m.