BANGOR – The Bangor girls soccer team went into Wednesday night’s game down two players, but with their confidence high.

The Rams charged into the first half scoring four of their five goals and defeated the Nokomis Warriors 5-1 at the Bangor High field.

The Rams improved to 9-1-0 while the Warriors of Newport slipped to 2-8-0.

With Bangor goalie Anne Wright out with a sinus infection, midfielder Emily Ayer away on a college trip and the Rams’ home field made slippery by light rain, Bangor needed to step up its level of play. Rams coach Jeff Ingalls couldn’t have been happier with the results.

“This is a big win for us,” Ingalls said. “We’re usually a second-half team. But tonight the ball stayed down there [near the Nokomis net]. Being around the net is what they’re doing differently now.”

Cathy Flemming and Sarah Parcak helped to coordinate the Rams new approach by scoring two goals apiece with three of them in the first half.

After Katrina Abell scored 3:35 into the first half off a Flemming assist, Parcak and Flemming went on a scoring frenzy.

With 8:09 left in the half, Parcak scored unassisted on a rebound off Nokomis keeper Monica Kus and then returned to the Warriors’ goal with 1:49 remaining to score unassisted again.

Then came Flemming’s turn.

With seven seconds left in the half, she scored off a Julie Murray assist. Then, 1:40 into the second half, the Rams junior reappeared at the Nokomis net to score unassisted, putting the Rams up 5-0.

Warriors’ Jen Cray scored unassisted at 23:33 into the second half to ruin the shutout.

Emily Morse, who stepped in for goalie Anne Wright, recovered seven of nine shots. The Rams kept Kus diligent during the first half when Bangor took most of its 19 shots. Kus recovered 12.

Ingalls said the Rams, who were ranked seventh in Class A through Sept. 29 before Saturday’s win over Presque Isle and Wednesday night’s victory, have scored 43 goals in 11 games this season.

Ingalls added that it is the team’s best shooting percentage in his three years as coach. This sets the Rams up well for a playoff run.

“We’re shooting to get home-field advantage in the playoffs,” Ingalls said. “But Caribou – who we play next – will be tough to beat. Of our last three games, they’ll be the toughest.

“I’m hoping Emily and Anne are back for that game. They should be. Anne is only a freshman, but she’s done a terrific job for us. I’m hoping she’s back.”