PRESQUE ISLE – Usually a long bus ride is a deterrent for high school sports teams.

The Winslow Black Raiders used the time wisely by watching the movie “Miracle” – the story about the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team. It inspired them enough to knock off No. 1 seed and undefeated Presque Isle, 2-1 in three overtimes in an Eastern Maine Class B girls soccer championship game Saturday at the SAD 1 Athletic Complex.

“We had heard the Boston Red Sox watched it during the playoffs and it worked for them,” said Winslow senior halfback Brittany Morin. “Our game played out the same way as the movie, as we were behind and then came back at the end.”

“We kept imagining that [the USA hockey team] was us,” said freshman Chelsea Carrier, who scored the game-winning goal 6:24 into the third overtime period. “It was good that we were the underdogs because we had no pressure on us.”

The victory propelled second-seeded Winslow, now 14-1-2, into Saturday’s Class B state championship against Gorham, a 2-0 winner over Maranacook of Readfield in the Western Maine final.

Just like Team USA, the Black Raiders had some tough obstacles to overcome. In addition to playing against an unbeaten top-ranked team on their home field, Winslow fell behind less than 10 minutes into the second half when Presque Isle junior striker Katie Delong hit a corner kick that deflected off the head of Black Raider sophomore fullback Courtney Turner and into the upper left corner of the goal.

It took a few minutes, but the Black Raiders regrouped.

“We were still confident because we knew [Presque Isle] hadn’t scored yet, that it was scored by us,” said Winslow coach Scott Wood. “We were still doing some good things on the field and we eventually got some momentum.”

It wasn’t until 6:32 remained in regulation that Winslow came up with the equalizer. Morin sent a shot from 20 yards out that took a bounce before eluding Wildcat freshman goalie Brianna Young and finding the back of the net.

“We weren’t getting many chances inside, so when I took the ball outside, I knew I had to shoot it,” Morin said. “We had some players near their goalie and [Young] may have had a bad view of it. Luckily, it went in.”

Winslow threatened some more with two corner-kick opportunities in the final minute of regulation and the visitors carried play in the first overtime as well. While Delong had a pair of good chances for Presque Isle early in the second OT, she was denied both times by Winslow goalie Hannah Brazier.

Morin had an excellent opportunity to end the game later in the period as she got loose down the left side for a breakaway and was one-on-one against Young. The Wildcat defense raced to chase her down and Morin was unable to get a good shot off.

“I felt the defense coming up behind me and by the time I got the ball out enough to shoot it, it was right between my legs,” Morin said. “I didn’t put enough on it.

“I blew it – I knew I did. But I still had faith in our team.”

Carrier’s game-winning goal came late in the third overtime. After freshman Katie Caron’s free kick from 40 yards out took a high bounce in the penalty area, Carrier got her head on the ball and directed it into the goal.

“Usually, their defense was heading the ball away on those plays, but this time they didn’t get to it,” Carrier said. “I was right in front and the goalie and I went for it. I got it over her head.”

Both Brazier and Young had 12 saves on 18 shots for their teams in goal. The Wildcats finished the season with a 16-1 record to fall short in their first appearance in an Eastern Maine final.

“I thought our girls played their hearts out,” said PI coach Ralph Michaud. “It was evenly matched, but when we got into overtime, they were subbing four at a time and had fresher legs that we did. Their deep bench made the difference.”