BANGOR – Bret Mitchell knew he had made a mistake when he was out of position for a cross late in the second half of Tuesday night’s Bangor-Brewer boys soccer game.

Mitchell, a Bangor forward, wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

The junior booted in a Matt Larochelle cross with 7:31 left in regulation to tie the game. But neither team emerged with a win through two overtimes in an exciting, hard-fought 1-1 tie between the cross-river rivals at the high school field.

The game closes the regular season for both squads, who will now wait to see where they fall for the Eastern Maine Class A playoffs. Bangor finishes at 9-3-2 and Brewer goes to 8-4-2.

The Rams have dominated their games lately but haven’t been able to put the ball in the net.

That was certainly true Tuesday night as Bangor’s shots went over or wide of the goal. The Rams weren’t able to capitalize on corner kicks or free kicks, and several hard-hit shots were aimed at Brewer goalie Matt Quimby.

“I wouldn’t say it’s frustration,” Mitchell said. “I just feel that the balls are going to start clicking for the playoffs.”

Things did click, however, as both he and Larochelle were in good position for their goal.

“I saw the first ball roll right against the post and I knew that was where I was supposed to be,” Mitchell said. “The next one came a few minutes later and I wasn’t going to let that one go by. I sensed that it was my place to be there.”

Mitchell also had an open look at one point in the first overtime but couldn’t get off a shot.

Both teams played excellent defense. The Witches stood fast within the penalty area, while the Rams’ backs and midfielders kept the Brewer forwards from making many runs at the goal.

But the Witches also struggled to win 50-50 balls.

“In the midfield we needed to play quicker and get our eyes up,” said Brewer sweeper Zack Bouzan-Kaloustian. “We had people open, we just didn’t hit them. [Bangor’s] pressure was getting to us a bit but it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle.”

Quimby held up well against Bangor’s offense, making 12 saves on 23 shots.

After a scoreless first half, Brewer took the lead 10 minutes into the second. Will Prescott was credited with the goal although the ball was nudged in by a Ram defender trying to protect the goalmouth.

Bangor goalie Josh Heath finished with six saves on 11 shots.

The Rams played without three starters – a goalie, a forward and a fullback. Leach said the three had violated a team rule but did not elaborate.

“Maybe they would have made a difference or maybe they would have come on and made a mistake,” he said. “There’s no way to say.”

Two of the boys will be back for Bangor’s playoff game, Leach said, while the third will await a decision from Bangor administration.

JV: Bangor 8-0