Milford Matt Pettingill (right) is embraced by Vincent Arsenov after Pettingill scored to tie Tuesday's Division II semifinal against Oyster River in the first half. (Photo by Dan Doyon)

EXETER – After starting his career as a goalie, senior Avery Wilson has excelled in his career as a forward for the Milford High School soccer team and it was only appropriate that he scored the most important goal in program history on Tuesday night.

Third-seeded Milford was locked into a 1-1 tie with No. 2 Oyster River in the Division II semifinals when Wilson’s 53rd goal of his career with 14:26 left in regulation lifted the Spartans to a 2-1 victory at Exeter High School’s William Ball Stadium.

“We’ve put in a lot of effort this season,” Wilson said. “I played keeper my freshman year so to score 50-plus goals in my career, it feels good to be here and go at it again with all of my team.”

The goal sent Milford (14-2-2) to the program’s first championship game on Friday night when the Spartans return to Exeter for the Division II title game vs. top seed Campbell.

“They’ve fought all year and have battled all year and we’re just hitting our stride right now,” Milford coach Anson Thibault said. “We’re playing hard and they’re playing for each other. We’re just excited. This is a great group of kids and they’ve earned it.”

Oyster River (15-3) was attempting to reach its fourth title game in five years, as it won titles in 2020 over Bow and 2022 over Kingswood. The Bobcats lost to Lebanon in 2021.

“It was a great game. Milford played their butts off and they had two fantastic goals,” Oyster River coach Akan Ekanem said. “All credit to them. They played well.”

Oyster River goalie Kaden Pare made 13 saves on the night and kept the game scoreless with a diving save of a penalty shot by Wilson. Torin Saunders then scored midway through the first half to give Oyster River a 1-0 lead.

Milford kept up the pressure when sophomore Matt Pettingill turned around from around 30 yards out and delivered a knuckling laser past Pare to the top corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1 with 14:12 left in the first half.

It was Pettingill’s first goal of the season.

“My coach has been telling me to take more shots, I saw the opportunity open, took a touch and let it rip,” Pettingill said. “I’ve had a few chances this season but that’s the first one that went in. I couldn’t have asked for anything else.”

Pare stopped a great chance by Milford’s Eric Arsenow midway through the second half before Wilson finished off a through ball from Vincent Arsenov seven minutes later for the game-winner.

“Vinny has been sending me balls all year and assisting me and I called for it,” Wilson said. “I had a header earlier that went off the post and I said you know what, send it back side. It’s going in.”

Thibault loves the scoring mentality Wilson brings

“Good goal scorers have to take the chance they’ve got and if they miss a couple, they have to keep their head to get the next one,” Thibault. “He did an awesome job of that. He’s an awesome player and I’m excited for him to go back to work on Friday.”