The Wolverines’ Payton Blagdon scored with 20 seconds left in regulation Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 11 to force overtime, but the combined Wiscasset /Boothbay Region high school team had to settle for a 3-3 tie with visiting Carrabec. The game was the Wolverines’ Mountain Valley Conference season opener.

With 31 ticks left in the first half, Carrabec scored first. The goal came on Beau Mergist’s shot from inside the penalty. The ball was deflected by Wolverine goalie L J Travis off the near goal post and bounced into the net. Adam Hodson had the Wolverines’ first shot. It came minutes after the opening kickoff but was wide right. Wiscasset/Boothbay continued to dominate play through the first half, outshooting their guests, 8-3.

With 10 minutes left until the half, Matt Eckert made a nice defensive play, running down Carrabec Brandon Smith, who had broken free with the ball inside the 18-yard line.

Luke Carey’s unassisted goal six minutes into the second half gave Carrabec a 2-0 lead. The Cobras’ two-goal advantage was short-lived, however. Fifty-nine seconds later, Jordan Espeut scored from outside the 18-yard line, chipping the ball into the net over the head of Carrabec keeper Adam Lawrence.

The Wolverines nearly tied the game at the 26:22 mark. Adian Foley took a nice shot from the right side low to the far post, but Lawrence was there for the save. Four minutes later, the Wolverines were whistled for tripping inside the penalty area. Carey hammered home the penalty kick, putting his team up 3-1.

Then, with 19:43 left in regulation, Espeut netted his second goal scoring again from just outside the 18. The Wolverines dominated the final 10 minutes of play. They had three corner kick opportunities, one from the left side, two from the right, but were held scoreless until Blagdon rebounded a loose ball and fired from just inside the 18. Lawrence charged, but missed the ball rolling behind him and into the net.

Carrabec had the only shot in the first five-minute OT. Travis went low, scooped the ball up and cleared it away. Midway through the second OT, Hodson carried the ball through two defenders, fired and just missed wide left.

Tempers flared in the final minute of play resulting in a player from each team being ejected for unsportsmanlike behavior.

In the closing seconds, Carrabec’s Carey took the game’s final shot but missed wide left.

The Cobras started the day with an 0-2 record in the MVC following losses to Winthrop and Monmouth. Although they have 14 players on their roster, only 11 made the trip to WMHS which meant they had no substitutes.

The Wolverine roster includes seniors Josh Jones, Espeut and Billy Pinkham; juniors John Hodson, Foley, Eckert and Brian Foye; sophomores Travis, Mason Davenport, Garrett Cossette, Dillion Leeman, Chance Blagdon, Gavin Loupe and Adam Hodson; freshmen Payton Blagdon and Karter Cooper.

Wiscasset/Boothbay will play Dirigo High School in Dixfield on Friday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m., returning home to host Hall-Dale Monday, Sept. 16.