LEE – There was one overriding sentiment as fans of the Lee girls soccer team flooded the field at the end of Friday afternoon’s Eastern Maine Class D championship game.

Thanks for the near heart attack, Shelby.

Shelby Pickering, the Pandas’ go-to goal-scorer, just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. In the end, the junior striker won it for the two-time defending regional champs. She just made it a little more dramatic.

Pickering tied the game 30 seconds before the end of regulation, then scored the game-winner with 50 seconds left in the third overtime period as the No. 1 Pandas rallied for a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Greenville.

Lee earned its third straight trip to the Class D state final on Nov. 8, where the Pandas will try to win their first title. They will face the winner of today’s Western Maine championship game between No. 3 Richmond (7-6-1) and No. 1 Waynflete (10-3).

The Pandas lost to the Flyers of Portland 3-0 last year and fell 1-0 to the Bobcats in 2001.

Pickering’s winner, her 54th goal of the season, started as a chip from Michaela Ham to Pickering, who got the ball near the right post. She settled the ball, turned, and shot it in. Greenville goalie Beth Bartley tried to fall on the ball, but it rolled in and the Pandas erupted in screams.

“I’m just so happy that we pulled it off,” Pickering said. “I was kind of doubting myself there for a while.”

The Pandas outshot the Lakers 12-4 in overtime. Greenville’s best chance came with about six minutes left in the third overtime when Lauren Dallam blasted a hard shot off a Crystal Ferris corner kick, but the ball went over the crossbar.

For a long stretch of regulation it seemed Lee wouldn’t get another shot in the state final. The Lakers took advantage of a stiff breeze and controlled play in the first half.

Greenville freshman Hannah Breton scored her team-high 18th goal of the season when she took a pass from Lauren Dallam, broke through the Lee defense, and blasted a shot from about 10 yards out into the upper left corner of the net.

Breton scored with 23 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first half. Greenville had an 8-6 edge in shots and had seven corner kicks to one for Lee.

Lee had the wind in the second half and that helped the Pandas to a 14-2 shooting advantage and five corner kicks (Greenville had two).

“We played hard. They’re just such a great offensive team and you can’t keep them shut out forever,” Greenville coach Dan Menard said. “We did it for about as long as you can, but 30 seconds cost us the game.”

The Pandas booted balls over and wide of the net until Pickering tied it late.

Sam Cole took a shot on goal with less than a minute left in the second half, but Greenville goalie Beth Bartley couldn’t hang on to the ball. Pickering ran on to it, nudging the ball into the back of the net.

“I was thinking, please go in, please go in,” Cole said. “We really had to pick it up if we wanted to win. That’s what I was thinking on that last trip [down the field in regulation].”

Greenville stopper Rica Breton marked Pickering for the entire game. Pickering lost her a few times, but overall Breton kept the Lee star from too many dangerous chances.

“Rica is a great, hard-nosed defensive player and she’s got great instincts,” Menard said.

Bartley had a fine game with 14 saves, including six in overtime. Lee’s Jackie Moors had six saves.