BREWER – A trio of unconventional goals and a second-half defensive stand lifted the Brewer boys soccer team to a big win Wednesday night.

Caleb McGary scored what proved to be the game-winning goal as the Witches defeated rival Bangor 3-2 at Doyle Field, Brewer’s first victory over Bangor in at least five years.

None of the Brewer seniors remember ever having beaten the Rams in their four years, and current Bangor coach Adam Leach, who coached Brewer five years ago, said he does not remember beating Bangor, either.

The win was exciting for new Brewer coach Mark Hundhammer. For the seniors it was even more so.

“It’s the greatest feeling in the world, to lead 3-0 at halftime and keep the lead for the rest of the game,” said Ben Savage, a senior stopper. “It’s great.”

Brewer (2-2-1) took a 3-0 lead into the second half, but Bangor (2-2) came out of the break firing. The Rams outshot the Witches 15-4 in the second half.

Almost six minutes into the period, Bangor’s Nick Larochelle kicked the ball to Kyle Cutshall, who settled it about 15 yards out and shot it into the goal.

The Rams continued to make their push and had another chance with 22:20 left. Brewer goalie Mike King was on the ground with the ball in his arms when it popped out. Bangor’s Joe Taylor kicked it in for the goal.

“We were just flat as a pancake,” Leach said. “… I told [the Rams] at halftime we had to go out and earn some self-respect and I think we did that.”

Brewer dribbled the ball into Bangor’s defensive half in the final minute and Witches forward Will Prescott ended the game when he headed the ball out of bounds with less than 15 seconds left.

“It just all came from inside, especially in the second half,” Savage said.

That, and the Witches moved a midfielder to the defense. Goalie King saved Brewer over and over in the second half. He saved eight of 19 shots overall.

Brewer’s Robbie Gray scored on a long direct kick 8:37 into the game. Zach Bouzan-Kaloustian’s goal with 16:30 left in the first half was the quirkiest of the game.

After a foul near the penalty area, Bangor goalie Payson Nichols grabbed the ball, walked with it and handed it to Bouzan-Kaloustian. Leach said Payson thought it was a goal kick, but it had actually been called a Brewer direct kick. As Nichols walked back to the goal, with his back to the field, Bouzan-Kaloustian set the ball and took his direct kick – right into the net.

“We were ready and they weren’t,” he said. “I took advantage of it.”

After a few moments of confusion the teams got to playing again. Bangor looked lost, though, and 1:25 later McGary scored on a kick from about 30 yards out.

Nichols and Josh Heath combined for four saves on nine shots.