HAMPDEN – Through frigid temperatures and a fierce wind, Georges Valley controlled the play throughout Saturday’s Class C boys soccer state championship game.

Even so, Dexter’s hustling defense and strong goalkeeping helped keep the game tied early in the second half.

Finally, the Buccaneers from Thomaston overcame the Tigers and the conditions.

Dan Wiley pounced on the rebound of a Ryan Holbrook shot and punched the ball into the goal with 31:26 remaining, helping lift Georges Valley to the state title with a 3-1 victory on the artificial turf at Sawyer Field.

The 17-1 Buccaneers earned the eighth state championship during the 34-year career of coach Sam Pendleton. It was their first since 1995.

“We’ve got a strong team, good chemistry and these guys want to win,” said crafty Georges Valley midfielder David Wilgus.

Georges Valley exhibited crisp passing all morning and kept constant pressure on the Dexter defense while earning a 25-4 advantage in shots.

The Western Maine champs registered 16 shots on goal, with Tigers goalkeeper Sam Bowers making 13 saves, including a handful of difficult stops.

Dexter (13-4-1) managed only two shots on goal, leaving Bucs ‘keeper Matt Judkins to make only one save. Those stats are a reflection of Georges Valley’s territorial advantage.

“The kids played their hearts out,” said Dexter coach Paul Shaw. “It just didn’t roll our way today. That’s probably the toughest team that we’ve played all year.”

The Buccaneers scored 5:16 into the contest. Wilgus made a run through the midfield, then pushed a pass out to Nigel Black on the left wing. Black’s through-ball found A.J. Staples, who slipped behind the defense on the right side and slammed a hard, low shot from the penalty area that beat Bowers to his right.

“We’ve got Staples and Elite Sprague and Nigel Black. When you have guys like that and you pass to them, if you get them open, they’re going to score and we’re going to win,” Wilgus said.

The Tigers put their first shot on goal at the 14:35 mark, a roller by Luc Marquis that was handled by Judkins. Dexter got the equalizer nearly 11 minutes later.

Tyler Sawyer got loose in front of the goal, but was knocked down by a defender while trying to control a pass from a teammate. Jeremy Kenney took the ensuing penalty kick and fired a shot that easily beat Judkins high to his left.

In spite of GV’s domination, the game was tied at halftime. The Bucs knew they would have to make a few adjustments in the second half.

“We didn’t really play as intensely and as quickly as we needed to really, in the first half,” Pendleton said. “We were taking too much time with the ball the whole first half.”

Wiley got the eventual game-winner at the 31:26 mark, capitalizing after Bowers stopped a long chip by Wilgus, but was unable to control it.

The Bucs added an insurance goal 12 minutes later and the two-goal cushion was plenty with Dexter pinned in its own end much of the time.

Wilgus made a cross from the right wing and found Black in the middle. Black popped a header over Bowers and into the goal to make it 3-1 with 19:13 to play.

Dexter suffered a big loss less than three minutes into the game when standout senior defender Jason Clukey suffered a knee injury.

“It hurts a little bit, because we have to shift people around that wouldn’t normally be in positions,” said senior Mike Martin. “But we had to play through it.”

The Tigers regrouped and received excellent performances in their own end from Martin, Nate Chambers, Brian Kelso, Aaron Woodman and Ryan Martin.