SOUTH BERWICK — The Kennebunk girls’ lacrosse team was getting the challenge it expected for the first 16 minutes of Saturday’s inter-class battle of unbeatens at Marshwood.

Then the Rams – who feature five seniors who plan to play in college – scored eight straight goals to pull away from Marshwood and win Saturday’s battle of unbeatens, 15-5.

Kennebunk (9-0) is the top-ranked team in Class B South and has two more challenges coming this week – at home against defending champ Yarmouth on Tuesday, then at Falmouth on Thursday.

Kennebunk lost in overtime to Yarmouth in the 2015 championship game, 11-10.

“The next two games are going to be a test, just like today,” senior midfielder Jenny Bush said. “Marshwood is a strong team with a really good defense and they were undefeated. We just had to play well and execute and we did that.”

Bush, who will play next year at Assumption College, scored four of her team-high five goals in the second half. She had ample help from Bates-bound Olivia Sandford (3 goals, 3 assists), Merrimack College recruit Kyra Schwartzman (4 goals, 1 assist) and future Lynchburg College player Carly Sandler (2 goals, 2 assists).

Kennebunk goalie Bella Kudas (headed to Drew University) made five of her six saves in the first half as Kennebunk scored four straight over the final 6:33 of the half to take a 7-2 lead.

Bush scored three times and Hallie Schwartzman also scored as Kennebunk expanded its lead to 11-2 with 17:30 to play.

“Once we figured out their defense, they knew people were going to be open,” Kennebunk Coach Annie Barker said. “They figured when (Marshwood) crashed the middle, other people would have to be open and that’s when it started to happen for us.”

Kennebunk combined fine-tuned offensive craft (11 goals were assisted) and patience with a gritty and consistent ability to win loose balls, the latter trait allowing the team to either extend or regain possession.

Marshwood (8-1), the defending Class A champion, had outscored its last four opponents 55-11 and was coming off a 15-2 win over Scarborough.

“We needed this. This is going to help us,” Marshwood Coach Bernie Marvin said. “To play such a superior club exposed several facets of the game that we need work on.”

Hannah Costin scored twice for Marshwood and Paige Singer had one goal and an assist.

Marvin noted that prior to 2015’s championship run the Hawks lost a late-season game to a good Thornton Academy club.

“That really set our heads right,” Marvin said.

Seventeen days later, Marshwood beat Thornton in the regional semifinal.

Both teams had gone too long without a serious challenge. Kennebunk’s average victory margin is now 12.4 goals.

“I’m glad that we got our toughest teams toward the end,” Kyra Schwartzman said. “It challenges us and it pushes us because as we’re developing and getting better we’re playing against stronger teams.”

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