BATH — The Bangor girls’ soccer team fell behind by a goal in the Class A state championship game Saturday, but there was no panic.

The Rams (17-1) responded with three goals in the final 27 minutes, to knock off two-time defending state champion Scarborough, 3-1, at windy McMann Field.

“Making sure that we are composed and maintain the intensity is something we focus on, especially in this postseason,” said senior midfielder Teagan Atherley, adding that being down a goal is, “not a big deal. We have the whole game left. We’ve just got to get it back.”

Maggie Booth gave Scarborough (14-2-1) a lead five minutes into the second half when she collected a bouncing ball and ripped a shot into the top-right corner that  Bangor’s standout goalie, Eva Coombs (five saves), had no chance of stopping.

“It was a great, powerful shot, but it wasn’t a possession play, so I wasn’t concerned,” said Bangor Coach Jay Kemble. “The same thing happened against Camden Hills (in the North final). And we responded well, and we had the wind at our back in the second half.”

Scarborough beat Bangor, 2-0, in last year’s state final. This time, the Red Storm couldn’t get an insurance goal.

Instead, Bangor’s midfield, led by Atherley, Clara Oldenburg and Gabby Gordon was able to consistently thwart the Red Storm’s attack and start one of its own.

“You have to give it to Bangor. They put us under as much pressure as we’ve been in this year,” said Scarborough Coach Mike Farley. “They did a really good job in the second half of settling the ball, getting it wide, getting crosses in, making us kind of scramble around. They really did win it in the second half.”

Bangor tied the game when Gabby Roy got to the far post unmarked and used her left foot to redirect a well-struck corner kick by Oldenburg with 27 minutes remaining.

Then it was time for Bangor freshman striker Georgie Stephenson to step into the spotlight.

Stephenson doesn’t start for Bangor. When she got onto the pitch in the first half, her rolled-up shirt sleeves were immediately eye-catching. Then one noticed how her tenacity, speed, obvious lower-body strength and good technical skill kept allowing her to win possession of the ball and put pressure on the defense.

She showed all of those attributes on the go-ahead goal with 9:11 to play. Stephenson won the ball in the middle of the box, maintained control and then got her right foot free to drill an unassisted goal past Scarborough goalie Sophia Rinaldi (four saves), inside the right post.

“Oh, yeah. I was ready. I was just waiting to get on the field and I just knew we were going to win, and I knew that I was going to help. That I needed to help,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson added a clinching goal with 1:33 to play, set up by Atherley after a tremendous effort along the left sideline by JoJo Clukey to get past a strong tackle attempt by Scarborough back Josie Duncan.