On paper, Thursday’s soccer playoff showdown between #9 seed Westport and #8 seed Diman promised to be a tight, low scoring affair. The two teams had played to two regular season draw — 1-1 and 0-0.

That  expectation came to an abrupt end 43 seconds in when a Diman shot ricocheted into the net. Thirteen minutes, the Diman lead was 2-0 and the goals just kept coming on Diman’s home field.

When time had run out, the Westport girls’ remarkable debut season had come to an end — Diman 6, Westport 0.

“They were fast, skilled and well coached. We couldn’t match their pace,” Coach Gary Muello said.

The Diman girls “just flew down the wings right past us,” and attempts to pursue “only opened up the inside for them.”

Adding to the challenge was the loss to a concussion a couple of games earlier of goalie Ashlie Thatcher, a sophomore who had posted nine shutouts during the regular season.

Volunteering to take her place was Dakodah Hall, an eighth grader more accustomed to played left back or midfield.

“She’s never really played goal before but she’s a natural athlete and she gave it her best effort — I’m proud of her,” the coach said. But Diman was “just too much for us this time— give them credit, they played a heck of a game.”

Also hurting Westport’s chances was a short bench. The team, which typically has 17 players was also without eighth grader Kaitlynn Gagne — she, too, had suffered a possible concussion.

“Our girls didn’t give up though — they fought right to the end,” the coach said.

The loss, though a disappointment, doesn’t spoil what has been “one great season,” Coach Muello said.

Westport, which hadn’t fielded a girls soccer team for 15 years, wound up with a 9-4-5 record and a playoff berth.

“There were tears, of course, but they know they were part of something pretty special — this team played way beyond expectations and they can all be proud.”

Graduation will take four seniors and key performers, among them lead scorer Reaghan Tripp (19 goals), and fellow team leaders Kayla Martel, Annie Mattia and Cassie Gaughan.

“Those losses will obviously hurt but we have lots of good young players coming along,” the coach said. “It’s been a blast and I am so proud of this group.”