WATERVILLE -- Wing defender Josh Sirois scored his first goal of the season Tuesday at Webber Field to help Waterville Senior High School earn a 1-0 win against Mt. Blue High School in an Eastern Class A boys soccer preliminary game.

Sirois scored in the 62nd minute, breaking open what had been an extremely tight defensive game dominated by the Purple Panthers.

Waterville, the No. 8 seed, improved to 8-5-2, while No. 9 Mt. Blue saw its season end at 6-6-3. Waterville advances to Friday's quarterfinal to face top-ranked and unbeaten Brunswick (14-0).

Defensively, the Panthers were quicker to the ball and managed to control play against the Cougars, allowing just four shots the entire game. Michael Jabar, Luc Bernier, Zach Jordan and Sirois forced play the entire afternoon keeping Mt. Blue pinned in its own end of the field.

"We have been strong defensively all year. We don't give up very many shots," Jabar said. "We played really well, going to the ball strong and were able to win a lot of 50-50 balls."

Mt. Blue had two big opportunities in the second half when Sam Mungin benefited from two excellent through balls that split the Waterville defense, sending the Cougar striker into the penalty area alone. Panther goalkeeper Zach Jochem made two sensational saves before Mungin could release a solid shot.

"We had a couple of good looks but couldn't capitalize," Mt. Blue coach Joel Smith said. "I think we played very good defense and were able to contain some of their guys by forcing them to shoot from the outside."

Waterville finished the game with 10 shots while Mt. Blue managed four. Jochem collected four saves and Mt. Blue keeper Devin Zamboni notched three.

In a game played almost entirely from midfield to the Mt. Blue 18, the Cougars' defense gave up a free kick from 30 yards midway through the second half. Panther Noah Spofford hit a well-placed ball into the middle of the penalty area, where Sirois turned on his defender and touched a soft right footed shot over Zamboni's head for the game's only goal.

"I got to the penalty mark and was able to win a 50-50 ball," Sirois said. "I saw where the goalie was positioned and hit a right footed volley over him."

Mt. Blue's defense of Travis Robinson, Jamie Sawyer, Jared Foster and Ben Davis was equally impressive while playing under constant pressure from the Waterville attack.

The Cougars' back four managed to keep the ball on the outside in an effort to limit Waterville's scoring chances while looking to initiate a transition game.