GILBERTSVILLE — This time, controversy did not surface.

Top-seeded Gilbertsville-Mount Upton wouldn't allow it, scoring a decisive 3-0 girls soccer victory over Laurens in a Section Four Class D semifinal on a cool and breezy Tuesday afternoon.

The Raiders (15-0-2) received a first-half goal from Sarah Hoke and second-half goals from Shelly Miles and Jessica Talbot.

The victory gives G-MU a spot in the Class D final, where it will face second-seeded Stamford (18-2) on Saturday at Wright National Soccer Campus.

"This was a big game for us after the controversy over the last one," G-MU coach Todd Talbot said in reference to G-MU's 3-2 overtime victory over visiting Laurens on Oct. 15. "(Laurens coach Bonnie Johnson's) comments in the paper this morning were really fuel enough for the girls to play their game. We responded positively to that."

In the Oct. 15 match, Laurens (11-5-1) thought it had tied the score at 3-all with practically no time left in overtime, but an official disallowed the goal, saying it came after the buzzer.

"We definitely were very angry from the last game, because they thought they had a tie and we thought we had a win," said Miles, who also assisted on Talbot's goal. "We decided we didn't want to have any kind of controversy after this one."

From the moment Hoke found the far post from 18 yards out with 11 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first half, the Raiders were in control.

The first goal was set up when Miles was tackled just outside the penalty area, setting up a free kick. Alicia Ross took the ensuing kick from about 25 yards out.

She chipped a ball about halfway to the goal.

"She plays a very nice ball that way," Todd Talbot said. "We've scored a few goals that way. I think she has four or five assists from that play. She plays a nice ball for people to run on to."

Laurens goalie Ashleigh Mix aggressively came out to field the ball, but she only skimmed the ball with her foot in an attempt to clear it.

The loose ball came to Hoke just right of the penalty box.

"It was basically an open net," said Hoke, who drove a hard shot into the far corner. "The whole team said we have to score first and get ahead in the beginning. Once we did, we were pumped."

To make things worse for the Leopards, their top offensive threat, Hannah Tirado, suffered an ankle injury in the first half. She did not play the final 15 or so minutes of the first half and missed the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Laurens' best scoring chances came while the fleet-footed Tirado was at full strength. She had a shot on a partial breakaway hit the side of the net with 25 minutes left in the first half and nearly beat G-MU goalie Emily Wilcox to a loose ball two minutes later.

"G-MU played a great game and we just didn't have the opportunities," Johnson said. "I'm proud of my girls. It was 3-0 and the girls were still going to the net."

Early in the second half, Miles made it 2-0 after tracking down a loose ball behind Laurens' defense. She touched the ball twice, faking right before shooting into the left corner of the goal with 36:33 left.

"She has a lot of speed and determination," Johnson said of Miles. "She wants to win games and that's what helps her and Jessica Talbot. They want to win games."

Seven minutes later, Miles tapped a crossing pass to Talbot, who scored from in close to make it 3-0.

"This was our best game of the season today," Todd Talbot said. "We played very well today."

G-MU 3, LAURENS 0

Section Four Class D semifinal

Laurens 0 0 — 0

G-MU 1 2 — 3

Laurens (11-5-1): None.

G-MU (15-0-2): Sarah Hoke 1-0; Shelly Miles 1-1; Jessica Talbot 1-0.

Goalies: Ashleigh Mix (L) 5; Emily Wilcox (G) 3.

Shots-cornerkicks: L 5-3; G-MU 15-0.