GARDINER — The Gardiner boys soccer team trailed for nearly the entire first half, but responded with four second-half goals to down Spruce Mountain (0-9-0) 5-1 in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference contest.

Zach Whitney got Spruce Mountain on the board 1:13 into the contest and the Phoenix led until the Tigers’ Kaleb Marston finished off a Kevin Frankhauser assist with 34 seconds remaining in the half.

Gardiner (2-7-0) went to work from there, as Alex LaPointe scored three goals in the second frame to seal the win. Josh Caldwell assisted on two of LaPointe’s goals and scored one of his own on a penalty kick.

MT. BLUE 1, MESSALONSKEE 0: Drew Parsons’ goal 16:04 into the contest proved to be the difference as the Cougars downed the Eagles in Oakland.

Colton Lawrence finished with seven saves for Mt. Blue (3-5-1), while Dylan Jones stopped six shots in goal for Messalonskee (3-5-0).

GIRLS SOCCER

MESSALONSKEE 2, MT. BLUE 1: McKenna Brodeur scored inside the final 10 seconds to give Messalonskee a thrilling 2-1 win over Mt. Blue in KVAC action.

Brodeur’s goal came off a mad dash after the second of back-to-back corner kicks for Mt. Blue went wide with 17 seconds left. The ball was cleared to Brodeur, who sped past two Cougar defenders and beat goalkeeper Addie Schanz to the far corner for the game-winner.

Kassadi McPherson scored the game’s first goal for Messalonskee (4-4-1) 2:08 in. Jocelyn Daggett tied it for Mt. Blue (2-5-2) 10 minutes later. Schanz, who made a save on a penalty kick to keep the game tied, 1-1, finished with 16 saves. Taylor Easler made 14 saves in net for the Eagles.

FIELD HOCKEY

MESSALONSKEE 4, CONY 1: Emily Hogan scored two goals to lead the Eagles to a KVAC A win over the Rams in Augusta.

Ally Corbett and Haley Lowell added goals for Messalonskee (10-1). Lydia Dexter added an assist.

Molly Silsby scored the lone goal for Cony (6-5).