SEARSPORT – Jill Dube stood alone in the dark, in the wake of what moments before had been a frenzy of schoolgirl soccer activity, and stared ahead as the field disappeared into the evening.

“It felt like if I let one shot go in, the whole game would be blamed on me,” she said, her eyes still red and puffy from a postgame cry. “It was a lot of pressure.”

For 80 minutes of regulation and four 10-minute, sudden-death overtime periods, Dube’s Madawaska Owls and the host Searsport Vikings went back-and-forth, knotted at two goals apiece in an Eastern Maine Class C semifinal playoff contest.

Only when Searsport’s Bree Robert fell to her knees after her penalty kick – her team’s fifth and final attempt – scooted wide to the right of Dube and the goal, was it actually over. Madawaska was one penalty kick better and was credited with a 3-2 victory.

In the end, the sense of relief was so great that the winners seemed to cry harder than the losers.

Fourth-ranked Madawaska, now 10-5-1, earned the right to face five-time defending Eastern Maine “C” champion Schenck at East Millinocket on Saturday for the title. No. 1 Searsport finishes 10-4-1.

Heading into the penalty kick portion of the game, both teams went to different goalkeepers. Searsport was forced to use junior forward Jen Russ after starting ‘keeper Joy Richard (12 saves on 28 shots) aggravated a back injury with 1:01 left in the third overtime. Madawaska Coach Ed Marshall went with Dube, who had played an outstanding game at fullback, because of her quickness.

Both teams notched their first two penalty-kick goals (Dube and Debbie Jandreau scored for the Owls; Russ and Amy Tripp for the Vikings), before Madawaska’s Crystal Clark’s kick sailed wide to the left.

Searsport’s Amber Howard, who scored both of her team’s regulation goals in the first half, then blasted a goal into the upper righthand portion of the goal to give Vikes a one-goal advantage.

After Madawaska’s Pat Pelletier scored, the Vikes let the Owls back into it when Jaimee Murphy’s shot hit the right post.

Kayla Baker, whose scored both of Madawaska’s regulation goals, then scored on the Owls’ final penalty kick, putting the pressure back on Searsport.

Robert stutter-stepped on her approach before shooting wide.

Each team had at least one ample opportunity to end the game in the overtime sessions.

With 6:30 left in the first overtime, the Owls – who dominated the game after Searsport took a 2-1 halftime lead – had one shot hit the right post, the first follow-up shot hit the top crossbar, and the second rebound shot into Richard’s gut to keep the game tied.

In the second OT, Howard had a one-on-one breakaway showdown with Owls ‘keeper Michele Hebert (six saves on 14 shots), only to shoot the ball straight forward as Hebert came out.

“I thought it was all over,” said Searsport Coach Mike Garcelon. “The scouting report was their goalkeeper doesn’t come out for anything. She came out early and it shocked Amber. She did a nice job getting the shot off. According to the scouting reports, that never should have happened.”

Madawaska had tied the game with 23:16 left in regulation when Baker headed in a Pelletier corner kick. Baker’s first goal came on a direct kick.

Russ also had an assist on the Howard’s first goal for Searsport.