Old Lyme — It was earlier this season when Paul Gleason, architect of four straight state championship teams now, was watching his daughter, Ally, coach the Old Lyme High School boys' team.

In the middle of the game, an inquiring mind asked him about the potential for a fifth title for the Old Lyme girls.

"Honestly," the ever-quotable Gleason said, "I thought we'll be lucky to have a .500 season."

That's been eclipsed with an exclamation point. The No. 8 Wildcats are right back where their last four teams have been to this point in the season — the CIAC Class S girls' soccer quarterfinals — following a 2-1 win over No. 24 St. Paul on Thursday afternoon.

Old Lyme (12-3-4) will play at top-seeded Housatonic, a 4-2 winner over No. 17 Cromwell in double overtime, on Saturday in Falls Village at 2 p.m.

Kaylee Armenia snapped a 1-1 tie early in the second half, keeping hope alive for a fifth straight state championship.

"We definitely lost a lot from last year," said senior Lydia Tinnerello, who gave Old Lyme the lead in this game. "But people have really stepped up and done their part. We are coming together as a team."

Gleason: "Our three seniors (Tinnerello, Katie Funaro and Melissa Mauro) have been great leaders. We lost four great seniors from last year. But we still are what we are. A mindset of 'let's go out and win.'"

Tinnerello's goal preceded a penalty kick that allowed St. Paul to tie the game. It may have ultimately done Old Lyme the bigger favor.

"We obviously didn't agree with the call," Tinnerello said. "But I think it kind of fired us up."

Once Armenia gave the Wildcats the lead, the offense maintained the pressure for the rest of the game.

"I don't think (St. Paul) had four shots the entire game," Gleason said. "We changed our defense a little today and it worked well. We moved Felse Kyle to forward. She was lit. It was like she was fired out of a Bronze Napoleon (cannon). She compromised the field for them the entire game."

It's the second straight season that the Wildcats eliminated St. Paul, Gleason's alma mater, in the state tournament.

m.dimauro@theday.com