HAMPDEN – It started in the same way that many of Hampden’s chances started in Saturday’s Class A divisional crossover semifinal against Oxford Hills.

A well-placed kick from midfield. A cross from the wing. A shot on goal.

But when Katie Lindemann booted in Erin Campbell’s cross with 4:47 left in overtime, this time the ball didn’t end up in the hands of Vikings goalie Amanda Cummings, or wide of the goalpost, or over the crossbar.

It ended up in the net.

And the Broncos ended up with a 1-0 overtime victory over Oxford Hills of South Paris and a berth in the Eastern Maine final.

Hampden, now 17-0, will face Mount Ararat of Topsham, a 1-0 winner over Waterville Saturday, in the regional final.

The Vikings finish their season at 11-5-1.

Just what was so different about Lindemann’s kick compared to the other 22 shots Hampden took in the game? For one, the senior forward was only two feet from the goal. For another, Cummings may have been slightly out of position – her only mistake of the game.

“There was a little space in between the goalie and the post and so I hoped I would get there in time, and I just stuck my foot out and it went right off my foot,” Lindemann said.

Hampden’s defense held the Vikes to 15 shots and two corner kicks (the Broncs had 12). Still, the teams went to overtime because of excellent goalie play and the Hampden’s struggles to finish in the penalty area.

Campbell, who hit a few shots over the crossbar, was one of the HA players who wasn’t able to find the net in regulation. Tyne Franchi had a number of headers that sailed over the goal. Center midfielders Kim Stephenson and Emily O’Connell, who were instrumental in moving the ball in the penalty area and then dishing off to other players, each had a few good chances.

“We were making the runs, we get great corners from Kim and great opportunities from that, but sometimes our finishing isn’t quite there,” Campbell said.

Oxford Hills, meanwhile, used big kicks from its midfielders and defenders in order to get the ball to speedy forwards Kyla DeCato and Devin Edwards.

“We knew they squeezed space a lot and we have some speed up top,” said Oxford Hills coach Kyle Morey. “We wanted to try to take them on one-[on]-one with some strikers up top and place some through-balls behind their defense because we definitely wouldn’t win a possession war with them.”But Edwards was issued her second yellow card of the game with 2:22 left in regulation, which meant the senior was gone for the rest of the game.

The game was very physical and intense despite the low scoring. There were three other yellow cards aside from Edwards’ two, and the clock stopped four times so a trainer could take injured players off the field.

Hampden’s Emmy Russell recorded her sixth shutout of the season. She made six saves.

“We were hoping to catch her off her line a couple times,” Morey said. “If we had released one we might have been able to do that, but she’s an outstanding ‘keeper.”

Cummings made nine saves and finishes her career with 21 shutouts, including five this season.