Madison senior Raegan Cowan celebrates with teammates after her overtime goal gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 win over Dexter in the eight-person girls’ soccer state championship game Saturday in Hermon. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

HERMON — The Madison girls’ soccer team wasn’t going to let anything get in its way of winning a second consecutive eight-person state championship.

And that meant breaking out a secret weapon to do it: The same golden rubber duck that traveled with the team during its title run last season.

On Saturday, it rested on the team’s bench while the Bulldogs pulled off a 2-1 overtime victory against Dexter. After the game, players not only took pictures with their two Gold Balls, but also with the good luck charm they say helped seal the victories.

“We got it before our state championship run last year, we brought it to every playoff game,” said Madison senior Raegan Cowan, who scored in overtime to cap an 18-0 season. “It’s always sitting on the water cooler (during games). It’s an interesting thing that we have going on, but when it works, it works.”

“It resides on top the Gold Ball, in the (trophy case at Madison Area High School),” added senior Mackenzie Robbins, who scored the Bulldogs’ other goal.

The duck, covered in glittery gold, has two large, black eyes and an orange beak. It was a gift last year from Robbins’ mother, Amanda Pepin. It traveled with the team throughout the playoffs last season, which culminated in a 3-1 victory over Penquis Valley in the state final.

The Bulldogs last season also shared the duck with the Carrabec boys’ soccer team, which played immediately after Madison’s game and beat Schenck/Stearns, 1-0.

The Madison girls’ soccer team once again used its golden rubber duck as a good luck charm on its way to another eight-person state championship on Saturday at Hermon High School. Dave Dyer/Kennebec Journal

“After (the win), we gave it to Carrabec, because they played after us, and then they won,” Robbins said.

“(The duck) just stuck,” Cowan added. “We took it out for the playoffs, and it definitely has some luck with it.”

It took more than luck for Madison to win its second straight title, of course. Fighting strong winds, Robbins made the kick of her career, converting a direct kick from 35 yards that sailed over the head of Dexter goalkeeper Adalea Gudroe to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead with 13:47 left in the second half.

“I was really nervous (on the kick), because it’s windy, and (Friday) at practice, a lot of my balls were going over the net because the wind took them,” Robbins said. “I kind of just hoped and prayed, and just kicked it.”

After Dexter tied it, Cowan came through in overtime when she buried a shot to the far right corner of the net. It was Cowan’s 68th goal of the season and the 126th of her final two seasons.

It was the final game for six Madison seniors, including Cowan and Robbins.

Madison’s Mackenzie Robbins, second from left, is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Dexter in the eight-person girls’ soccer state championship game Saturday in Hermon. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“We have so much fun together, we’re a very close group, on and off the field,” Cowan said. “Being able to win for each other really pushes us, for sure.”

“I think (this title) feels better than last time, because it’s senior year and there’s no other way you want to end (your career) than that,” Robbins added.