HAMPDEN – The Hampden Academy boys soccer team spent most of Monday’s practice time on offense, working on finishing shots and crashing the net.

It was evident Tuesday evening how hard the Broncos worked.

Hampden got goals from four different players, and Jay Kaufman had two assists, as the Broncs defeated John Bapst 4-1 at the Weatherbee School complex field.

Peter Alexander scored the eventual game-winner in the first half for Hampden, which goes to 3-2. The Crusaders fall to 2-1.

The game was very physical game – each squad was issued a yellow card in the second half – and the artificial-turf field was especially slippery due to a heavy mist.

Each team poured on offensive pressure, but Hampden was able to finish around the net. It was a turnaround from the Broncos’ previous game, a loss to Presque Isle in which both teams had 13 shots, but the Wildcats won 4-2.

“Pretty much our biggest problem has been not taking shots,” senior forward Nate Bridges said. “We play with it too much in the offensive third. In this game we took shots, we got the bounces and the rebounds.”

Hampden’s Alex Wiken scored the first goal 2 minutes, 45 seconds, into the game when he kicked in a pass from Zanardi.

A.J. Stein tied it for the Crusaders of Bangor about 17 minutes later when his direct kick from went in after a scramble. But Alexander drilled a straight shot from about 30 yards out to break the tie for good 12:56 before halftime.

“That was an amazing shot,” sweeper Matt Pierce said. “That was our biggest goal. That got us up.”

Nattapong Kongsuriya scored off an assist from Jay Kaufman with about 10 minutes left in the first half, and Bridges added another insurance goal early in the second.

The Broncos kept John Bapst goalie Rick Hathaway busy in the first half. He had to make saves on seven of the 10 Hampden shots that didn’t go in, and the Broncs also hit the post once in the half.

The Crusaders had a good offensive stretch in the second half and outshot the defensive-minded Broncos 8-6. But the Crusaders couldn’t get the ball past Hampden’s Kenny Mayo (five saves on 13 shots overall).

“We had our chances but we had trouble finishing and we had some miscommunication on defense that probably led to three of their goals,” John Bapst coach Evan Frace said. “We’ve got a ways to go. It’s only our third game, so we’ll be alright.”

Hathaway finished with 10 saves on 19 shots.

JV: Hampden 4-0