FALMOUTH – The Cape Elizabeth girls’ lacrosse team has spent more than a year remembering its one-goal playoff loss to Falmouth.
On Saturday, the Capers came from behind to beat the Yachtsmen 14-12 in a Western Class B semifinal.
The third-seeded Capers (10-3) will face top-ranked Waynflete (11-2) for the regional title Wednesday.
“This whole season has been about getting that game back,” said Talley Perkins, who scored a team-high four goals. “Our fast breaks were working and it’s good to be in the final again.”
Cape got goals from six players and worked its way back after trailing 7-5 at halftime.
The Capers pulled ahead 10-9 on a free possession score by Paris Bethel, then again at 11-10 on a goal by Janessa White who finished a feed from Bethel on a fast break with 14:21 to play.
The Capers forced three key turnovers by second-seeded Falmouth (7-6) in the final minutes.
“The motivation has been building for this one,” said Cape Coach Kurt Chapin. “We’ve been talking a lot about getting the monkey off our back.”
Falmouth got four goals from Sam Smithwick, three from Laura Fay, two each from Alex Bernier and Jessica DiPhilippo, and one from Geneva Waite.
“The second half they started to run the ball downfield and we had difficulty stopping the fast break,” said Falmouth Coach Robin Haley. “We’ve struggled with the last few minutes of games.”
DiPhilippo made it 13-12 with 9:30 left, then the teams traded shots that hit a post or crossbar.
With about five minutes left, the Yachtsmen pressed but turned over the ball, leading to Cape’s final goal by Anna Darling with 3:32 to play.
They pressed still, but turned the ball over twice more.
“I thought our defense did a really good job with their composure and getting the ball out,” said Chapin.
Cape got four goals by Perkins, three by Bethel, two each by Darling, White and Laura Steidl, and one form Hannah Newhall.
Chapin said he expects Waynflete will be a challenge, but he and his team are ready.
“Sometimes teams will tense up when they see that ‘W’,” he said, “but we’re a lot closer to them than we have been.”
Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:
jmenendez@pressherald.com
Twitter: JennMenendez
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