DIXFIELD — The third time proved to be a charm for the Dirigo girls’ soccer team, who refused to let history repeat itself in a Class C quarterfinal playoff game Tuesday afternoon at windy Harlow Park.

Senior Alyssa Wade scored a goal in each half and a dominating defensive effort in the second half allowed the Cougars to keep Monmouth corralled in a 3-1 victory.

The win was rewarding because it ended two years of frustration when Dirigo lost quarterfinal games on penalty kicks.

“I felt we took it to them in the opening 15 minutes,” said Dirigo coach Art Chamberlin, whose Cougars beat Monmouth 3-0 in their only meeting this season. “But, Monmouth came roaring back and at that point I believe it was more mentally (taxing) on the girls. Still, you really have to credit them because they played a strong game.”

Both teams had to compensate for the cold and gusty cross wind that cased airborne balls to carry extended distances.

With the Cougars applying pressure early, Paige Murphy centered a ball to Natalie Bolduc who headed it over Monmouth goalie Adriana Gonzeles (10 saves) 7:37 into the game. Bolduc received a bloody nose in the melee.

Later in the half, Dirigo was awarded a corner and Bolduc kicked a rising line drive that sailed in front of the net. Mustang defenders Shannon Buzzell and Kourtnee Langiois were in position, but Wade got a head on the ball and redirected it past Gonzeles and into the goal. It gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first half.

”In the first half we played well,” Wade said. “We were communicating and passing the ball well. We certainly didn’t want things to end up like in the past.”

Monmouth, who beat Mt. Abram in a preliminary game, regrouped and Kylie Kemp set up freshman Caroline Bonnerfant, who booted a hard shot that Dirigo goalie Natasha Deroche blocked. Paxton Lessard scrambled after a loose ball on the left wing and Monmouth received a break when a pushing call resulted in a direct kick.

Kemp kicked the ball over the outstretched arms of Deroche. The score occurred with 1:18 left in the first half.

 “You need to put the ball in the net to score,” Monmouth coach Gary Trafton said. “We certainly had opportunities, but for whatever reason, we were not able to finish. At the same time, Dirigo was able to on the chances they had.”

Dirigo, which lost to Madison 1-0 in the Mountain Valley Conference championship game last Thursday, regained the momentum in the second half. Kayla Gaudin, Michelle Morrrison and Wade bottled up the midfield, while Bryce Parent stepped up, defensively. Deroche didn’t touch a ball in the entire latter half.

  “The spirit of this team carried us,” said Wade, who scored from 18 yards with 6:43 left in the game. “We knew a one-goal lead wouldn’t be enough, so we needed to play hard.”

Dirigo will host St. Dom’s in the semifinals Friday at 3:30 p.m.