Montville — Maddy Campbell, who already sat out one full soccer season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, tore the same ligament in her right knee early this season.

This time, in the midst of her senior year with the Montville High School girls' soccer team, Campbell made a decision to play in spite of the tear.

"I kind of thought this was my last chance," Campbell said. "I love to be here with them and obviously being on the field is different than sitting cheering them on. It's something I love. It was really an easy decision."

Campbell had the last chance Monday night, too.

Shooting from the left wing, Campbell scored with 5 minutes, 17 seconds remaining to lift No. 12 Montville past No. 21 Weston 2-1 in the first round of the Class M state tournament. Campbell shot with her right foot, using the same leg on which she wears a brace to protect her knee.

The Indians, who did not qualify for the state tournament a year ago, were giddy following the win. As they stretched in the midst of Montville's turf field, coach April Parady-Walter went around to high-five or hug every player.

Montville (12-4-3) advanced to play at No. 5 Cromwell in a second-round game Wednesday.

Parady-Walter, who was mumbling about a curse at the game's end, said the Indians have never advanced past the first round in her tenure as head coach and assistant coach at Montville. That included the 2009 season when the team won the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division, but still was eliminated early.

This season, Montville was coming off a loss in the ECC tournament semifinals against top-seeded Plainfield, falling on penalty kicks. The Indians were then locked in a scoreless tie with Weston at halftime Monday, with Weston appearing to dominate.

"It was a tough loss against Plainfield; it was a little deflating. We told them it's bigger than the conference," Parady-Walter said. "Here we are in states.

" ... They knew what they had to do (coming out in the second half against Weston). We knew we had to start playing more on the wings because they had the middle stopped up. We had to use our speed and talent on the outside. The first half we were off our game, trying to wake up. We had glimmers of it."

It only took 1:15 into the second half for Maddie Beaupre to provide Montville with an adrenaline burst. Beaupre, taking advantage of the space she was given on the left wing, as her coach directed, launched a 30-yard strike with her left foot that sailed over the head of Weston freshman goalie Bridget Angus.

"We needed something to get us going," Beaupre said.

Weston tied the game 1-1 with 17:56 to play on a goal by Petra Friden. Time was running out when Campbell, who plays as much as she can with her injury, Parady-Walter said, reentered the game.

Campbell struck from almost the same spot as Beaupre and sophomore Kara Beaupre nearly added an insurance goal with 41 seconds remaining, only to have the ball deflected by Angus.

"If I cut anywhere, side to side (it hurts)," said Campbell of her knee. "Obviously it's not ideal. ... (Against Plainfield), we knew that wasn't the end for us. Our whole career, since freshmen year, has been leading up to this moment."

Lauren Ross made four saves in goal for Montville including a point blank stop off a shot by Weston's Katie Orefice, who beat the defense just a little over a minute into the game. Weston topped Montville 2-1 during the regular season.

"They're pumped," Parady-Walter said of the victory. "They worked hard. They battled back."

v.fulkerson@theday.com