PORTVILLE — The Portville girls soccer team took another step toward a league title Thursday night, fending off a challenge from a red-hot Ellicottville team.

Ellicottville had won its last five games by a combined margin of 39 goals. But on Thursday, Portville defended its home turf with a 4-2 victory, its second over the Eagles in CCAA East play.

Portville (8-2, 7-0) took a 2-0 lead with goals from Meghan Lyle and Grace Gariepy, but needed to add to it with goals from Olivia Dean and Leah Faulkner in the second half.

Gariepy, Lyle and Dean each had an assist.

“With Ellicottville, this is a prime game for a great atmosphere,” PCS coach Mike Matz said. “It was high intensity, high pace. They’re well coached, have tremendous skill, great history, all of that. Even before I took over they’ve had some really good battles and this was no different.”

Portville goalkeeper Mackenzie Harmon made six saves.

For Ellicottville (5-6, 5-2), Audrey Hurlburt and Cameron Kaleta each scored a goal and Addison John had an assist. Abby Chudy made 11 saves.

“We went up 2-0 and in my mind I’m thinking ‘this lead is not safe at all,’ and what do you know, the Hurlburt girl, who is a tremendous player, scored a beautiful goal,” Matz noted. “But Ellicottville is a team you cannot shake and feel good about until (the clock) says zeroes. It was one of those games where the time couldn’t go fast enough.”