KENNEBUNK – Everything clicked Friday night for the Cheverus girls’ lacrosse team, and that was too much for Kennebunk to handle.

The Stags looked sharp while rolling to a 13-6 win against the Rams for their eighth consecutive win in an SMAA game at Memorial Field.

“Cheverus is powerful,” Kennebunk Coach Annie Barker said. “They’re really strong. They’re a very good solid team, and they’re going to go far.”

The Stags played well in every phase of the game.

“When the defense needed to come up and make a play, they did,” Cheverus Coach Jamie Chamberlain said. “When (Kennebunk) was getting a little momentum, our offense would make a nice sharp play and give us a some separation on the scoreboard. It was a really solid effort all around by the girls.”

Cheverus (7-1), ranked second in the Class A East Heal Point standings, has improved after dropping a 7-6 decision to Massabesic in its season opener.

“We really haven’t played a lot together, but we’ve really connected,” said Elyse Caiazzo, a junior midfielder who scored three goals and had two assists. “We’ve really bonded, and I think that has a lot to do with how we play.”

The game marked the return of Cheverus’ starting goalie Hope Correia, who missed the first month of the season after undergoing surgery April 16 to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee. She made her varsity debut last season as a freshman.

“She has an amazing impact,” Caiazzo said. “She’s very vocal, and she tells us where to go (on defense) and she’s very supportive. She knows what she has to do to make our team succeed, and she’s just a great goalie. It’s a gift she’s got, and it’s awesome to watch her play.”

That gift was on display during the first half when Correia made nine of her 12 saves. Four of those stops came on free-position shots, where a shooter gets to go one-on-one against the goalie following a foul.

“I really rely on my defense,” she said. “They do what they do and that makes it easier for me. I just have to worry about the ball because I know they’re going to watch the cutters.”

Correia’s play during the first 25 minutes enabled the Stags to carry a 6-4 lead into the second half. They put the game away by limiting the Rams (6-3) to two goals during the final 25 minutes of the game.

Meredith Willard led the Stags with five goals and an assist. MaryKate Walsh had two goals. Nicole Pineau and Alex Logan each contributed a goal and an assist and Staci Swallow added a goal. Betsy Craig led Kennebunk with three goals. Rose Bryant followed with two goals and an assist, while freshman Kyra Schwartzman scored a goal.

Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

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