The quest for regional titles in schoolgirl soccer gets off to an early start Friday, when defending Class D state champion Lee Academy hosts Greenville in the Eastern D final for the second straight year.

The 2 p.m. match was moved up from Saturday because several of the Lee soccer players also are members of the school’s Eastern D championship girls cross country team that will compete in the state meet at Belfast on Saturday.

That contingent is led by senior Shelby Pickering, the state’s career goal-scoring leader. Pickering scored the tying goal with 30 seconds left in regulation of last year’s EM soccer final against Greenville and scored the game-winner in triple overtime as the Pandas outlasted the Lakers 2-1 to win their third straight regional title.

The Pandas went on to defeat Waynflete of Portland 4-0 for the 2003 state championship.

Lee enters this year’s EM final riding a 34-match winning streak. The Pandas, 16-0 this year, have not lost since falling to Waynflete in the 2002 state final.

Second-seeded Greenville has been nearly as impressive this fall, compiling a 15-1 record.

Neither team has been scored upon so far in postseason play thanks to defenses backed by goalies Jackie Moors of Lee and Beth Bartley of Greenville.

Lee defeated No. 8 Shead of Eastport 8-0 in its quarterfinal, then topped No. 4 Van Buren 3-0 in its semifinal on goals by Pickering and freshmen Brooke Harris and Dana Houghton.

Greenville opened postseason play with a 5-0 quarterfinal victory over No. 10 Washburn, followed by a 3-0 semifinal victory over No. 3 Ashland. Hannah Breton had two goals and an assist for the Lakers in that win, while Emily Fowle also scored.

The Lee-Greenville winner will face the winner of Saturday’s Western D final between top-ranked Waynflete (10-2-1) and No. 2 Richmond (10-5) in the state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 6.