Eliza Paradis scored with 11:50 left in regulation for the Wolverines but it wasn’t enough as Spruce Mountain held on for a 2-1 win in Mountain Valley Conference soccer action under the lights Tuesday night at Wiscasset Middle High School.

Paradis’s goal came on Gwen Webber’s corner kick from the right side that led to a wild scramble in front of the net.

After spotting the Phoenix a 2-0 first half lead, the Wolverines made a spirited bid to tie the game in the final minutes. Wiscasset had its share of scoring opportunities outshooting the Phoenix 14-9 but just couldn’t seem to get the ball in the net.

Kateleen Trask had a pair of shots for Wiscasset 10 minutes after the opening kickoff. The first sent Phoenix keeper Emma Towers low to her right, she caught the ball and punted it away. The second on a pass by Kylie People’s was about a foot wide of the goal.

Later in the half Towers leaped and made a nice save on Webber’s blast from about 30 yards away.

Another missed WMHS opportunity was when Cara Viele broke free, sped with the ball to the right corner, and made a beautiful cross pass in front of the Phoenix net. Unfortunately none of her teammates could get to the ball and it was cleared away.

With 18:55 left until halftime Spruce Mountain lit up the scoreboard. Jaycee Cole crossed a pass to Jazmin Ryder who booted the ball into the corner of the net. Two minutes later, Cole broke free, carried the ball up the middle, and scored and just like that it was 2-nil.

Minutes before the break Natalie Potter crossed a pass to Viele, open on the wing, but her shot bounded wide right.

The Phoenix were whistled for an infraction 10 minutes into the second half setting up a direct kick from 30 yards away. Webber’s shot was a good one but again Towers was there for the save. Later, Kayla Cossette centered a pass to Viele. She slipped behind one Phoenix defender but her shot was deflected by fullback Abby Ortiz to Annabelle Collins who cleared the ball to the sideline.

With 13 minutes left to play, Cole broke free again but had the ball stolen away by Wolverine Ellie Pratt. She boomed the ball downfield. This eventually led to a pair of WMHS corner kicks, the second of which resulted in Paradis’s goal.

Wiscasset keeper Lily Souza finished with 10 saves. A huge one came in the second half on Cole’s breakaway. Towers had 11 saves. It was a well-played game and after the final horn sounded, both teams shook hands and exited the field to a well-deserved round of applause from the fans.

The win was the first one this season for the Phoenix who improved to 1-4-1; WMHS is 0-5 but improving.

Wiscasset will be at Winthrop High School Thursday, Sept. 19 to play the Ramblers.