WATERBORO — Marshwood High, the defending Class A champion, scored two goals in the final 19 seconds to defeat Massabesic 5-4 in a girls’ lacrosse game Wednesday.

Lucia Albers tied the game on a pass from Paige Singer with 18.9 seconds remaining. Marshwood won the ensuing draw and with 4.1 seconds left, Hannah Costin scored her fourth goal of the game after a pass from Albers.

“It was like the gate opened up for us, let’s (score) another one,” Costin said. “With their defense we just had to make passes to make them move and once we moved them, we just went right in.”

Marshwood improved to 3-0.

Sophomore goalie Skylar Amsden, a converted attacker, made 11 saves for the win.

The game was tied 1-1 at the half as both defenses were tenacious and routinely shut down attackers.

Massabesic, the 2014 Class A champion, built a 4-1 lead with 9:26 remaining in its season opener.

Josie Ring and Madison Drain both scored on quick transition attacks after Marshwood turnovers, and Maquila DiMastrantonio converted the final Massabesic goal. Delia Sylvain scored early in the game for the Mustangs.

Costin, who showed quick feet and the ability to get off a shot in tight confines, got one goal back with 8:02 left and cut the lead to 4-3 with 2:45 remaining.

Massabesic committed several turnovers down the stretch.

“We didn’t handle the ball well down the stretch, gave them extra opportunities and got them right back in the game,” Massabesic Coach Brooks Bowen said. “You’re not going to do that against good teams and come out on top very often.”

Albers’ tying goal came after a scrambling situation in front of Massabesic goalie Lydia Wasina resulted in a foul called. Singer had the free-position look from just a slight angle. She could have taken the shot but Albers, stationed near the crease to Wasina’s right, could tell Singer had other ideas.

“We had the eyes going. Paige and I had the eyes going,” Albers said. “I was open and I’ve been practicing crease rolls a lot.”

Seconds later, after Marshwood controlled the draw, it was Albers who had her eyes on Costin as the clock wound down.

“We know Hannah’s there for us. ‘Get it to Hannah,’ ” Albers said.

Costin took a short pass that went across Wasina’s line of vision, made one subtle shot fake and put away the winner in what has become a top rivalry.

“We are always a one-goal game. It’s typically overtime,” Marshwood Coach Bernie Marvin said. “We know our defenses are going to be stout and we know our goalies are going to be stout. It was a great test for us. Our kids, I think it was just determination and grit, and they came through.”

Bowen said it’s too early in the season for one close game to define either team.

“It’s not going to define us, for sure,” he said. “One game is one game. Did we want it? Of course we did. Are we disappointed we let it slip away? Of course we are. We’ll get better.”