BANGOR – When Jim Thorpe returned to Bangor for the District 11 Class 3A quarterfinals, it wasn’t just another game — it was a chance to show how far the Olympians had come.

With its full lineup together and a sharper sense of purpose, Jim Thorpe played with poise and discipline, edging the fourth-seeded Slaters 1-0 on Monday afternoon behind a shutout from Liam Off and a first-half strike from Maddox Day.

The victory kept the fifth-seeded Olympians on track to defend their District 11 Class 3A title — and showed how much they’ve grown since a 2-0 regular-season loss to Bangor earlier this fall.

“Bangor beat us in-season this year, 2-0, and in that game, we didn’t have our goalie, as he was away at SATs,” head coach Mike Dudak said. “So it was a little bit different lineup. But today, we knew we had to hunker down defensively to start off the game, and that’s exactly what we did.

“Then we eventually got control of the game and were able to post our lone goal in the first half. It wasn’t a game where you’d be comfortable with one goal, so it wasn’t like we put one in the back of the net and parked the bus — everyone kept playing.”

Back in September, the Olympians dropped that regular-season meeting in Bangor, but Monday’s rematch felt different from the opening whistle. Off turned in one of his best performances of the season, finishing with eight saves — including several that preserved the narrow lead.

“Liam came into this game knowing he had to play a strong game, and he did,” Dudak said. “He probably made three really solid saves — tough ones that could have been in the back of the net. It wasn’t a walk in the park for him.”

The difference this time wasn’t just in goal. Senior Hayden Meckes, normally a key playmaker in the midfield, was back where he belonged — helping drive the attack instead of filling in at keeper. He provided the assist that led to the game’s only score.

“We actually got a shot off, and Bangor went to clear it to the far side, and Hayden Meckes got a touch on it coming out,” Dudak said, describing the play that led to the goal with 9:17 left in the first half. “He then kicked it wide to Maddox Day, and he just had a ton of room. Just outside the 18, he got the shot, and it went top-right corner. The goalie got a touch on it, but just not enough to knock it away.”

The goal gave Jim Thorpe the lead — and, ultimately, the victory — as the defense held firm through a tense second half.

The Olympians will now get a day off to prepare for a familiar opponent: top-seeded Blue Mountain, the same program they faced at this stage last season.

“It’s Blue Mountain next. So it’s literally just like last year,” Dudak said. “Blue Mountain was the No. 1 seed then, and they got the bye. So they’re our next game, and we’ll play them Wednesday — time and site to be determined.

“It’s a challenging game for us. They’re going to be a faster team, and for us, it’s just about slowing down the pace of the game and possessing the soccer ball.”

POSTSEASON STATS ... The Olympians held a narrow 9-7 advantage in shots on goal.

EVERYBODY PRESENT ... During the season, injuries forced Dudak and his staff to shuffle the lineup. On Monday, however, all 28 players were available.

“The thing is we had everybody today,” Dudak said. “It’s almost like last year — we’re coming to the end of the season, and we’re just now getting healthy. Players are nursing injuries, getting back, and basically playing at full strength. We played our actual formation today that we always wanted to play. It’s kind of crazy, but again, we’re hitting our stride right at the end of the season.”

Jim Thorpe 1, Bangor 0

Jim Thorpe 1 0 — 1

Bangor 0 0 — 0

Goals: Jim Thorpe — Maddox Day 1. Bangor — None; Assists: Jim Thorpe — Hayden Meckes 1. Bangor — None; Saves: Jim Thorpe — Liam Off 8. Bangor — Christian Fekete 6; Shots on goal: Jim Thorpe 9, Bangor 7.

Records: Jim Thorpe (11-8); Bangor (10-8-1).