Montesano ultimately was rewarded for a dominating display of possession soccer.

Brooke Streeter and Peyton Poler scored in the second half to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen in a non-league girls soccer contest Thursday at Stewart Field.

State 1A participants last year, the Bulldogs (1-0) were perhaps conservatively credited with a 17-3 advantage in shots on goal.

Time of possession was even more lopsided, as Monte virtually camped out in Bobcat territory throughout.

“That’s a pretty good 1A team,” Aberdeen coach Larry Fleming acknowledged. “We’re hustling, but we’re young and don’t have a ton of experience and they’ve got a lot of experience.”

For all of Monte’s opportunities, the game was scoreless at the half. Bobcat goalkeeper Reagan Glanz made numerous fine saves (several on Samantha Stanfield shots). Aberdeen’s defense, meanwhile, was often able to curtail Bulldog runs before they could launch quality shots.

Montesano coach Fidel Sanchez described his team as “a little antsy” after having its scheduled season opener with Tumwater cancelled due to poor air quality.

“The girls did what we told them to do,” said Sanchez, a former Bobcat coach in his first season as Monte’s head coach. “What we did not do was make the last pass (in scoring territory). But for the girls to go out in their first game and knock the ball all over the yard with possession, it was nice to see.”

Montesano finally broke the scoring ice in the 46th minute. After the Bobcats blocked a Bulldog shot from inside the penalty area, Streeter sent the rebound toward the lower left corner of the net. A diving Glanz got her hand on the ball, but not enough to prevent it from crossing the goal line.

With Aberdeen freshman defender Amiah Leach stopping an on-target Bulldog shot when Glanz was out of the net midway through the second half, it remained 1-0 until the Bobcats were called for a handball in the box during stoppage time.

Poler hit the resulting penalty kick perfectly into the upper left corner, even though Glanz had guessed right in lunging for the shot.

Aberdeen’s scoring chances were few and far between. Its best came late in the first half when Abbie Bradt lofted about a 25-yard free kick that forced Monte goalkeeper Haylee Perkinson to make a leaping save.

Sanchez cited the play of midfielder Lauren Denholm.

Fleming commended Glanz, freshmen midfielders Emma Green and Elizabeth Martinez and sophomore sweeper Nayeli Morris.

The Bulldogs host Rochester on Tuesday. The Bobcats (0-1-1) are idle until Thursday, when they entertain Kelso.