By Michael Hoffer
MaxPreps.com
The Class B boys' lacrosse state championship game came early last weekend, when Yarmouth and host Cape Elizabeth squared off in what most expect to be the pairing on June 21. Both defenses dominated at times, but the Clippers were able to get their offense going when it mattered most as they went on to a 9-3 victory. Several other compelling boys' games have been played in recent days.
On the girls' side, it's all Waynflete. The Flyers continue to steamroll all comers and improved to 7-0 with recent wipeouts of longtime rivals Kennebunk and Greely. Brunswick is also impressing and several teams appear to have a shot in Western Class A.
On the diamond, Deering has stayed perfect, but it's had to scratch and claw in recent days to do so. Scarborough's softball team continues to set the pace, while Cape Elizabeth suffered its first loss of the year.
Boys' Lacrosse: Clippers Sail to Glory
A raucous crowd was on hand Friday night for the first-ever Yarmouth-Cape Elizabeth meeting under the lights at the Capers' new Hannaford turf field.
The Clippers would score first, taking a 1-0 lead when junior Rob Highland scored unassisted with 9:18 to play in the first quarter. Cape Elizabeth bounced back and tied the score at the 7:29 mark when senior Zach Belden fed junior Mike Holden for a goal.
Forty-nine seconds later, Yarmouth senior Sam Miller got the first of his lucky seven goals, taking a pass from sophomore Steven Petrovek and beating Capers' senior goalie Max Foner for a 2-1 advantage. The tandem hooked up again 38 seconds later for a 3-1 lead, but Yarmouth wouldn't score again for over 27 minutes.
Clippers' standout senior goalie Jonathan Poole began to make his presence felt in the first period, making seven saves, including three of the stellar variety.
In the second quarter, however, the Clippers couldn't hold on to the ball and squandered their lead. Yarmouth had 11 turnovers for the quarter, rarely was able to set up an offensive possession and witnessed Cape Elizabeth tying the score on an unassisted goal from Belden and an unassisted tally from senior Chris Bagley.
The Capers had opportunity after opportunity to take the lead before halftime, but despite five man-up chances and several good looks, they couldn't solve Poole.
“I think we had shots on almost all of them,” Cape Elizabeth coach Ben Raymond said of his team's man-up chances. “Most of the time, they were good shots. I was happy with that. Zach and Mike had shots. We got the ball to the correct people, but their goalie made some big saves.”
“I had a great warm-up and I was seeing the ball really well,” Poole said. “I had some rough games and made some adjustments and came through today.”
The Clippers settled down offensively in the third period, but couldn't score. Finally, late in the quarter, Yarmouth got its first man-up chance and promptly took advantage as Miller raced in and beat Foner for a 4-3 lead.
“It definitely gave us some breathing room and we could relax,” Miller said. “All we had to do technically was hold on to the ball to win the game. We took it to them.”
“Sam's money,” Curry added. “He's played great. He's worked hard. He lets it come to him. His teammates are very unselfish and they find him. That's why it continues to work.”
The rest of the game would be Miller time.
With 2:04 to play in the third, Miller took a pass from Petrovek and scored for a 5-3 lead. With 8:54 to go in the game, he collected a loose ball in front and scored. At the7:29 mark, he took a pass from Highland and scored man-up, then, with 2:39 remaining, he scored unassisted, his seventh tally of the game.
“We settled down after halftime and made some key adjustments,” Poole said. “We were able to slow the ball down on our clears and settle it on offense. That was really helpful. It gave our defense a break. Their defense played great the first half. Our offense came to life in the second half and it was great to see that.”
With the clock about to strike zero, Petrovek tickled the twine, accounting for the 9-3 final score.
“I just feel like we came out in the second half and took it to them,” Miller said. “We won ground balls and our clears improved in the third quarter. It was tough being out here in the second quarter. We couldn't go get the ball and get it back. We picked it up in the second half.
“Cape comes out ready to play. Every single time. We knew that they'd be ready to play on their home field. We had to be ready to play too. It's always tough.”
Curry was most impressed with the fact Yarmouth didn't surrender a goal after the second quarter.
“The defense was awesome tonight,” he said. “They came out and played a great game. I don't mind if it's a defensive struggle. We play good defense. Jon was spectacular. They controlled the ball on us for a long time and we had trouble clearing. We knew they'd be a great team. They're athletic and they do a great job. Their players are excellent.
“It was just a case of getting the ball offensively. If we get the ball down and keep it in the box and move it around, we have weapons and we'll score. (Senior) Tim Sweeney controlled face offs for us in the second half and that was so critical.”
The Clippers won nine of 14 draws and forced 20 turnovers (while making 27). They also won 18 of the 27 second half ground balls.
“It was a good game for the majority of the game,” Raymond said. “We had to come out and pressure a little more in the fourth quarter and they took advantage of that. Miller had a great game. We only have to beat them once this year. We just have to make sure it's the right time.”
Yarmouth improved to 6-1 Tuesday with a hard-fought 11-7 home triumph over Cheverus.
“This team isn't done,” Curry said. “We've got some great games coming up. We've got some great opportunities.”
Yarmouth is currently tied for second with Lincoln Academy and Mt. Blue in the Eastern Class A Heal Points standings. Morse has the top spot. NYA, the defending state champion, is 11th, but earned its first win Tuesday when it won 8-4 at Freeport.
Cape Elizabeth bounced back Monday with a 10-2 home win over Deering. Bagley scored four times to help the Capers improve to 5-2 on the season. They play at Portland Friday.
Cape Elizabeth is second to still-unbeaten Greely in the Western B Heals (the teams meet May 30). Falmouth, at 4-3, is also in the mix.
Tuesday night in Scarborough, the Red Storm hosted powerhouse Portland in a Western A showdown with huge playoff implications. Scarborough beat the Bulldogs en route to the 2006 state championship and Portland returned the favor with an upset win in last year's regional final.
The Red Storm would earn their biggest win to date, holding the potent Bulldogs scoreless for 25 minutes, 20 seconds and scoring five unanswered goals en route to the 7-5 triumph. Ryan Hunt had three goals to lead the way, while goalie Joe Kennedy came up several key saves.
Thornton Academy is currently atop the Western A Heals with Cheverus and Portland close behind. Scarborough figures to move up after its big win.
In Eastern A, Lewiston and Brunswick, the defending state champion, continue to lead the way. Messalonskee is also a factor.
Girls' Lacrosse: Waynflete's a Team for the Ages
After disposing of their first seven opponents, including four of the top programs in the state, by a composite 111-28 margin, the Waynflete girls' lacrosse team appears on target to win its first state championship since 2005.
While the Flyers resemble a title lock, an even bigger question arises:
Could the 2008 team be the best in program annals?
While Waynflete still has a long way to go before it can dance on the Fitzpatrick Stadium turf and roll the credits on the movie we've seen so many times before, this edition has all the goods to eclipse the 1998 and 2005 undefeated state championship teams and secure immortality.
“We're definitely a confident team with all our wins,” said junior Mariah Monks, who led the Flyers with five goals in Saturday's emphatic 16-5 victory at rival Kennebunk. “We feel great. I'm really excited.”
The Flyers lost to Cheverus in last year's regional semifinals and fell to Yarmouth in 2006 Class B Final, but both of those teams, along with top contender North Yarmouth Academy, have been no match for the Waynflete juggernaut in 2008.
The Flyers have already avenged their loss to the Stags with a vengeance, 15-1, blew past the Clippers with a second half surge, 13-7, and broke open a close game with a second half clinical display of offensive perfection in an 18-6 home win over NYA.
Waynflete (which also ran roughshod over host Wells 16-1 and visiting Falmouth18-4 in prior action) went to Kennebunk Saturday. The Flyers and Rams have been fierce regular season and playoff rivals for years, but Waynflete has owned Kennebunk in recent seasons (including regional final wins in 2004, 2005 and 2006) and hadn't lost to the Rams since2003.
That domination would continue, but once again, the Flyers would have to do their best work after the halftime break.
Just 23 seconds into the game, sophomore sensation Morgan Woodhouse scored unassisted for a 1-0 lead. Kennebunk would draw even with 19:46 to play in the first half when senior Christina Forte scored unassisted. With 18:01 to go in the half, Waynflete took the lead for good as Monks scored unassisted. At the 10:12 mark, Monks struck again, collecting a loose ball and firing a shot past Rams' junior goalie Taylor Vaughan. Two minutes later, Flyers' senior Addie Thompson scored unassisted, causing Kennebunk coach Annie Barker to call timeout.
It was to no avail, however, as Waynflete sophomore Amy Allen (who led her team with six goals in the win over Falmouth) took a pass from senior Grace Verrill for a goal at the 8:02 mark for a seemingly commanding 5-1 advantage.
Surprisingly, the Rams would come to life late in the half and make the Flyers appear mortal.
With 3:18 to play, Kennebunk junior standout Jamie Spang took a pass from senior Brooke Kravetz and beat Waynflete senior goalie Margaret Veroneau to snap a 16 minute, 28 second drought.
Amere 10 seconds later, Spang scored unassisted to make it a two-goal game. With 57 seconds to play in the half, Spang (from Kravetz) found the net again and the Flyers' lead was down to one, 5-4, at the break.
If it wasn't for seven saves from Veroneau, Waynflete might have trailed.
“Margaret saved us in the first half,” Flyers' coach Cathie Connors said. “If she didn't save those balls, we would have a hard time with momentum. All we did at halftime was getting fired up. The girls were a little down that they caught up.”
Kennebunk had won six of the 10 first half draws, forced 10 Waynflete turnovers (while making 11) and seemed to be in position to take control, but he Rams had simply awakened a sleeping giant.
If it was difficult to put the Flyers' second half brilliance against NYA and Yarmouth into proper perspective, all that could be said about Waynflete's performance at Kennebunk is that there simply are no words.
After Veroneau turned away an early Rams' bid that could have tied the score, the Flyers went ahead 6-4 on Woodhouse's unassisted tally at the 21:12 mark. With 17:46 to play, Amy Allen stole the ball in front of the goal and beat Vaughan for a 7-4 lead. Twenty-six seconds later, Monks fed senior Ashley Allen for an 8-4 lead. A mere 53seconds later, Ashley Allen scored unassisted, pushing the lead to9-4 and forcing Barker to call timeout.
It only got worse for the hosts.
Woodhouse scored unassisted a the 15:21 mark, junior Anna Libby fed Amy Allen for a goal with 10:23 to play, Monks (from Ashley Allen) scored 62 seconds later, Amy Allen set up Monks with 8:01 to go, Monks fed Ashley Allen 43 seconds later, and Thompson capped the surge when she took a pass from junior Ellie Cole and scored with 5:25 remaining to give the Flyers a 15-4 lead.
Waynflete had scored 10 times in just over 15 minutes, turning a nail-biter into a one-sided affair.
“It was an unbelievable second half,” Connors said. “We switched Morgan to the draw. Ashley's awesome on the draw, but it wasn't working. We needed a little more height. Once we started to get possession of the draw, we were OK. Until then, we struggled because they won the draws in the first half.
“We also switched up our midfield a little bit. We pulled Amy up a little bit and cleared to her and got the ball moving because Margaret's been able to clear the restraining line.”
Kennebunk snapped the 10-0 run and a 21 minute, 42 second drought when Kravetz (from junior Maggie Lavoie) scored with 4:15 to play, but for good measure, Monks scored her fifth goal of the game (from Amy Allen)with 3:18 left, to bring the curtain down on the Flyers' 16-5 victory.
“We've always been a second half team,” Monks said. “We just had to calm down and run the offense and set up plays. Sometimes, it just takes us a half to get going. We have an all-around really great team. Every player is just incredibly good at lacrosse.
“We knew it would be a competitive game. We went into it thinking it would be one of our hardest games. I think one of our strengths is that we don't freak out. When we get behind or it gets close, Cathie's really good at rejuvenating us.”
In addition to Monks' five goals, the Allen sisters and Woodhouse had three goals each, while Thompson scored twice. Monks also had two assists, while both Allens, Thompson, Cole, Libby and Verrill had one apiece.
Veroneau wound up with eight saves. Waynflete enjoyed a 9-4 edge in draws in the second half and a 13-10 advantage overall. The Flyers forced 19 turnovers and won the ground ball battle, 41-30 (after being tied at halftime, 18-18).
Kennebunk got three goals from Spang and one apiece from Forte and Kravetz. Kravetz also had two assists, while Lavoie had one. Vaughan made six saves.
Tuesday, the Flyers went to Greely and won 15-4. Rematches with Yarmouth and NYA loom next week, but it's hard to envision this powerhouse stumbling.
“I'm so psyched right now,” Connors said. “We just have to keep them going and stay focused and keep our passing game going. When we don't pass, we don't do well. We have to keep moving the ball.
Waynflete has a commanding lead in the Western B Heals, but York, Falmouth and Greely are still hanging around.
In Western A, Marshwood has been a pleasant surprise this year and leads in the Heal Points standings even after a 6-5 home loss to Cheverus Monday. Kennebunk, Scarborough, defending state champion Massabesic, Portland and Cheverus are all in the mix as well.
On the eastern side of things, two-time regional champion Brunswick has stormed to a 9-0 starts (outscoring the opposition 150-27) and leads the Eastern A Heals. Oxford Hills, Mt. Ararat and Lewiston are also enjoying strong seasons.
In Eastern B, North Yarmouth Academy and Yarmouth are 1-2. The teams had a showdown Wednesday night. Morse and Freeport are also in the mix.
Softball: Cape Elizabeth Loses First Game
The defending Class B state champion Cape Elizabeth softball team suffered its first setback last Friday when it fell 1-0 to ace Hannah Hill and the host Fryeburg Raiders. As a result, Fryeburg is now first in the Western B Heals, while the Capers are second. Lisbon, Gray-New Gloucester, Maranacook, Lake Region, Greely and Yarmouth are also in the hunt.
In Western A, defending champ Scarborough continued its dominant ways in recent days, improving to 12-0 in a stretch highlighted by junior Melissa Dellatore's perfect game against Marshwood. The Red Storm will face some stern tests in the near future, as they'll host Biddeford and South Portland.
Scarborough leads in the standings, but Biddeford is second and South Portland fifth. Deering, Bonny Eagle, Gorham and Thornton Academy can't be overlooked.
Georges Valley is first in Western C. Richmond leads the way in Western D. In the east, Brewer leads Class A, John Bapst is tops in Class B, and Calais is No. 1 in Class C.
Baseball: Deering Keeps It Going
The defending Class A state champion Deering baseball team needed eight innings to beat visiting Cheverus, 1-0, last Thursday, erupted for three fifth inning runs en route to a 5-1 home win over recent nemesis Biddeford Saturday, then rallied from a 5-0 deficit to visiting Thornton Academy for an 8-6 victory Tuesday to improve to 12-0.
The Rams lead the Heals, with Thornton Academy, Biddeford, Marshwood and Westbrook right behind.
In Western B, Lincoln Academy now leads the standings, with York second. Yarmouth, Falmouth, Mountain Valley, Lisbon, Wells, Maranacook and defending state champion Greely are also enjoying strong seasons.
Dirigo sets the pace in Western C. Richmond is tops in Western D.
In the east, Skowhegan has a slim edge over Brewer in Class A, John Bapst is tops in Class B, George Stevens Academy is first in Class C and Southern Aroostook has the top spot in Class D.
Michael Hoffer is the sports editor of The Forecaster, a family of weekly newspapers based in Falmouth. Michael can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net
