BANGOR – It was the biggest game of the season thus far, and Casey Hartley and the rest of the Bangor girls soccer team played like it.

Hartley’s goal with two minutes, 34 seconds left boosted Bangor to a 1-0 victory over Waterville Thursday evening in a highly anticipated meeting of two undefeated Eastern Maine Class A teams.

The importance of the win wasn’t lost on the 10-0 Rams.

Waterville (9-1) was ranked second in the most recent Heal Point standings. Bangor was third.

“They were worth more points than any other team we play this entire season,” senior midfielder Erin MacDermott said. “This game decided if we were going to have a home playoff game or get on a bus and travel for two hours and play. It was a really well-played game. I think we had more shooting opportunities and our defense played amazing.”

The Rams were also aware the Panthers had racked up 41 goals while allowing only one going into the game.

The Bangor defense, anchored by senior sweeper Kristen Eremita, limited Waterville to five shots. The Panthers didn’t get off a second-half shot until there were about 121/2 minutes left.

“What we’ve been working on is trying to defend closer to the midfield,” Eremita said. “We support each other so that if [a ball] does get by them, someone will have their back. So [the opposition doesn’t] get down towards the net as much.”

Hartley scored the winning goal, but several other Rams helped make the play happen.

Moments after Bangor forward Amy Hackett was upended in the penalty box with no foul called, the Panthers were whistled for a push just outside the 18-yard line. MacDermott took the ensuing free kick from the right side of the goal, arcing it to the far post.

“I saw Casey and Catherine [LeClair] standing at the left corner,” she said. “I decided to not go for the shot and go for the two people that were standing there. Luckily, it hit both of them.”

LeClair stopped it from going over the end line and tapped it over to Hartley, who slipped it past Waterville goalie Taylor Hart.

The goal provided some relief for the Rams, who had a number of good chances. Hackett nearly scored 10 minutes into the second half when she headed a MacDermott corner kick just over the crossbar.

“I feel like we were a little frustrated but you can’t let that get to you,” said Hartley, a junior forward. “You just have to play until there’s no more time left.”

The Rams and the Panthers played an even first half with one shot each.

Bangor’s Tawnya Godinez logged the shutout, making three saves. She stopped two hard-hit shots on the ground by Paige Gardiner and plucked a Shelby Tuttle shot out of the air in the final minutes.

Rachel Roberts had a big clearing kick with 10 seconds left as the Panthers put on pressure to get the equalizer.

The Rams have adjusted their defense a bit lately.

“We’ve been working on more of a flat-back [four] than a diamond,” Roberts said.

Hart stopped four of nine shots.

“It was just one little breakdown,” Waterville coach Ed Worcester said. “We had our chances, too. I just thought it was a well-played game.”

JV: Waterville 3-1.