LINCOLNVILLE — On a slightly rainy day, the Lincolnville Lynx exhibited a dominating performance, by far their strongest game of the season, to defeat the Appleton Wildcats on the Lincolnville pitch 5-0 in a co-ed Busline League quarterfinal game.

Lincolnville’s start was so strong that the Wildcats were barely able to get out of their end during the first 10 minutes.

The Lynx tallied its first score at 3:45 when an errant Appleton goal kick found its way to the foot of winger Jaden Johnson. Johnson drove quickly towards the goal and launched an excellent chip shot that soared over everyone to nestle in the upper part of the Appleton net out of the keeper’s reach.

Despite the dominance that resulted in many superb drives in the Wildcats’ end, the Lynx did not capitalize on any of them.

Appleton then rallied, and although Lincolnville retained a distinct edge in play, the rest of the half was far more evenly played although the Lynx added an insurance goal with 26:30 gone.

That drive started on the left, but Appleton covered well forcing a bit of a battle royale before midfielder Nathan Oxley broke free and sent a pass to striker Owen Markowitz who quickly converted with a high punch that eluded Appleton’s excellent keeper.

Lincolville came out strong again in the second half notching their third at 34:44 when midfielder Liam Day-Lynch corralled the ball outside the Wildcats’ box and sent it in on an angle. After ricocheting off several players, striker Mikayla Talbot ended up racing the keeper for the ball across the mouth of the goal. When they both reached the ball, Talbot was able to bounce it in off the keeper’s legs.

Talbot followed that up at 39:30 after Johnson bounced a corner kick off the keeper. It fell at Talbot’s feet and she rapidly converted from short distance.

Finally, Day-Lynch staged a dribbling clinic as he drove through the center of the Appleton defense at 51:03, pulled up short and fired a shot through the remaining Appleton players to bury the ball in the net.

Avery Luft, supported by the defense of sweeper Roo Boetsch, stopper Mason Clark, and wing defenders Canyon Palise and Chloe Day-Lynch, turned aside all of Appleton’s efforts on net to record the shutout.

Lincolnville will play in the league semifinals Monday, Oct. 21 in Lincolnville with a kickoff at 3:45 p.m.

Ben Edes is the Lincolnville soccer coach. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.