MONTESANO — After applying pressure for the first 48 minutes, Montesano finally found the key to unlocking Centralia’s defense.

Peyton Poler, Samantha Stanfield and Cheyann Bartlett did all their team’s scoring in the second half to give Montesano a 3-1 victory over Centralia in a non-league girls soccer contest Tuesday at Rottle Field.

The match-up of the Class 1A Bulldogs and the 2A Tigers proved to be a study in contrasts.

Maintaining possession for the vast majority of the match, the Bulldogs (3-1-2) outshot the Tigers, 21-6. But a tough Centralia defense prevented Monte in the first half from launching many close-in tries.

The young Tigers (2-4), who have eight freshmen on their varsity roster, relied almost exclusively on long through passes for their scoring chances. A couple of those almost produced what would have been the only first-half goal.

Centralia’s Alayna Miller did put the ball in the net in the 15th minute, but the goal was nullified by an offside call. Tiger freshman Aailiyah Corona had a breakaway opportunity late in the half, but Monte goalkeeper Haylee Perkinson came out of the net to make a sliding stop.

The Bulldogs began converting their opportunities early in the second half.

“It all comes down to movement for our kids,” Monte coach Mike Malpass said. “If they’re standing around, it’s easy to defend. If they’re working in conjunction with each other, that’s when we score.”

With the half about eight minutes old, Stanfield made a run up the right side and crossed a pass perfectly to Poler. The junior midfielder blasted it home from about 12 yards out.

Five minutes later, Stanfield outdueled a couple of defenders for possession inside the penalty area and shot into (and actually through the netting) the lower left-hand corner to make it 2-0.

Bartlett added the final Monte goal, in the 71st minute, in somewhat improbable fashion. Headed into the right corner at an acute angle in which even Malpass expected a cross, the Bulldog senior somehow found the upper left corner of the net.

Perkinson, who had come up limping after making her first-half save on Corona, took a shot to the rib cage area when she and Miller collided in pursuit of a loose ball with about 18 minutes remaining. This time she was helped from the field, although Malpass said afterward that the injury didn’t appear to be serious.

Junior Noelle Tingey took over in goal and made a couple of saves. She had no chance on Centralia’s only goal, on which Anastasia Ulrigg headed in a perfectly executed corner kick with about five minutes remaining.

Centralia attempted to apply the pressure over the remaining span, but failed to get off another clear shot.

Montesano took the JV match, 7-1.

The Bulldogs host Seton Catholic in a varsity-only 6 p.m. contest on Thursday.