LACONIA — Trailing by three goals in the fourth quarter was unfamiliar territory for No. 2 Bow on Saturday. For a team that had generally steamrolled its Division III competition all season, No. 3 Gilford (14-2) had the Falcons (16-3) on the ropes with a trip to the state championship game on the line.

Bow fought back to tie the game 10-10, thanks to two late goals from freshman Charlotte Duncan, and forced overtime. But in the extra period with 1:28 remaining, Gilford junior Olivia Keenan capped off a dominant afternoon with her sixth goal to propel the Golden Eagles into the state championship game next Thursday.

When these two teams met at Gilford High School on May 15, it was the Falcons who’d prevailed in overtime, 12-11. Saturday was Gilford’s revenge. 

“They were a great team when we played them last time. We knew we were in for a good game,” head coach Chris Raabe said. “It was OT last time, and we won, and unfortunately they won this time.”

The loss halted Bow’s quest for back-to-back state championships, after rolling through the tournament last year and winning the title game over St. Thomas, 20-5. This season won’t have quite as triumphant a result.

“It was a good effort,” Raabe said. “We had some slip ups in the middle that cost us. … It was a tough way for the seniors to go out, but it was a great game.”

The eight-player senior class — Lauren Rapp, Olivia Selleck, Ally Alexakos, Juliette Tarsa, Jill Harpring, Bridget Hilton, Kendall Murray and Kate Labrecque — reached at least the semifinals each of the last three seasons, including last year’s state title run and a runner-up finish in 2022. On Saturday, Selleck and Murray each scored twice in their final games.

Over the senior class’ four-year span in the program, the Falcons went 59-7.

“Our senior class has been great,” Raabe said. They’ve been awesome. It’s awesome. I’ll miss them all.”