BANGOR – John Bapst High School senior inner Sarah Connelly scored the only goal in a Sept. 8 win over Bangor and it came with just 1:46 remaining.

She didn’t wait as long on Wednesday.

Connelly’s shot deflected off a Bangor defender’s stick and into the cage with 4:34 remaining in the first half as the Crusaders posted another 1-0 triumph over the Rams.

John Bapst (6-4) outshot Bangor 23-9 but Rams senior goalie and tri-captain Bonnie Case was outstanding and kept her team in the game, especially in the first half.

She made several point-blank saves among her seven. She had no chance on Connelly’s goal.

Senior Chelsea Atkinson, who was dominant in the midfield, set up Connelly’s goal with one of her numerous dangerous crosses into the Bangor circle.

“I dribbled it up the right side and was just looking for the hole [in the defense],” said Atkinson.

The ball went to Connelly just inside the top of the circle.

“I hit it, it bounced up a little bit, hit their defender’s stick and went in,” said Connelly, whose goal was her sixth of the season.

“I was going one way and the ball angled the other way [off the defender’s stick],” said Case. “It was very upsetting.”

Bapst had a decided territorial advantage for most of the game as Atkinson, Connelly, speedy and elusive right wing Ashley Freeman, and forward Heather Laferriere generated numerous scoring chances.

But Case and the Ram defense, led by senior Elizabeth Strout, kept their composure and were able to keep the game close.

“To face that many shots and allow just one goal, she [Case] played very well. Their whole defense did,” said John Bapst coach Gina Schuck.

The Rams (1-6-1) pressed for the equalizer and had their best flurry of the game over the final nine minutes. They earned some penalty corners and free hits just outside the circle but couldn’t tie it up.

Crusaders goalie Julia Sleeper was forced to make her best save with 7:30 left when she robbed Sarah Quinn, who took a quick 6-yard shot during a scramble.

“I saw the ball coming across and it was just like, ‘I’ve got to get there. I have to get it. There’s no way this is going in the cage,” said Sleeper, who got her pad on the shot and survived the wild flurry that ensued.

She finished with five saves.

Bangor coach Lisa Conley said her team “played one of its best games of the year” but couldn’t capitalize on its chances.

The JV teams battled to a scoreless tie.