YARMOUTH — The shot was a bit of a change-up from Allison Lancaster. The result, for Lancaster and her Skowhegan High teammates, was business as usual.
Lancaster’s penalty corner goal with 12:35 left in the first half propelled Skowhegan to a 4-1 victory against Scarborough and its 12th Class A state championship in 13 years, and 15th in school history.
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“It wasn’t exactly planned out that way but it worked out,” said Lancaster, who will take her game to Providence College. “I was just trying to get it off. I got around the flyer and I was just looking to get it in the corner.”
The Indians’ last two titles have come against Scarborough — the only team to beat Skowhegan in a state final in the 21st century, in 2009.
Skowhegan (18-0) has won a state-record 76 straight games since then.
For the first four minutes, Scarborough (16-1-1) had the better of the play, with Kristen Murray getting a shot on goal right off the opening faceoff, defender Victoria Mullin making a key save and the Red Storm earning a a penalty corner.
“You just think you have that flash of life as far as getting a goal and there’s always that one girl there to sweep it away,” Scarborough Coach Kerry Mariello said. “We were just hoping to get that one in, and that surge of momentum might have allowed us to overcome certain things.”
Skowhegan Coach Paula Doughty said trying to go through a career unbeaten may have affected her seniors.
“(They) emotionally were wound before this game started,” Doughty said. “They were more wound today than I’ve ever seen them. We have three or four seniors who have never lost a game in four years and this winning streak thing was driving them crazy. So much pressure on them.”
Several times the Red Storm had Skowhegan goalie Leah Kruse well out of the net and on the ground but were unable to get another shot on goal.
But once Lancaster dodged the Scarborough flyer and her modestly paced shot got past Scarborough keeper Alyssa Souza (18 saves), Skowhegan went about building a 4-0 lead.
Rylie Blanchet scored with less than two minutes to go before halftime. That goal, like a Logan LeBlanc goal, was scored on a penalty corner.
Renee Wright scored the Indians’ third goal with 22:19 to play when she banged in a rebound to finish a transition rush that came after Kruse stuffed a sharp-angled penalty corner bid by Maddy Dobecki.
Scarborough scored when Kristen Murray laced a reverse stick shot in transition that zipped by Kruse with 11:02 left.
“(Skowhegan is) a phenomenal team. There’s a reason they’ve won so many state championships,” Murray said. “For us to even be able to knock one in is really something.”
Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at:scraig@pressherald.comTwitter: SteveCCraig
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