WESTBROOK — All indicators suggested Saturday’s boys’ lacrosse regional semifinal between No. 3 Gorham at No. 2 Westbrook would be a game-long battle.

Instead, Gorham – and in particular junior attack Alex York – proved a double-overtime regular-season loss to the Blue Blazes, and the teams’ similar records and seedings, were moot points. York scored nine goals to bring his season total to 61 (with 39 assists) and the Rams controlled play throughout in a 14-4 win.

“We were just all fired up and they weren’t as fired up as us,” York said. “You could just tell that we wanted it more than them in the beginning. We got off to a great start. The defense played incredible. Everyone just played incredible and it was a whole team effort.”

Gorham (12-2) will be at No. 1 Scarborough (10-3) for the regional title game. Gorham beat the host Red Storm, 9-8, in overtime to open the regular season.

Westbrook, coming off the program’s first playoff win, finished at 10-4.

York scored three goals and assisted on one by Cam Wright to put the Rams ahead 4-0 with 4:40 left in the first quarter while Gorham goalie Carter Landry was making the first five of his 15 saves.

Wright (35 goals on season) finished with two goals and two assists.

“Me and Cam always work well together. We just know how we play,” York said. “No matter where (the ball) is, we’re so used to each other we just work well. I personally think we’re the best duo in the state because we work so well together.”

“Gorham played very aggressively and they came in sharp and their big guns, (York and Wright), they rose to the occasion,” Westbrook Coach Peter Lyons said.

Westbrook got on the board when Curtis Knapton curled around the cage and, while falling, got a shot past Landry with 36 seconds left in the quarter. Gorham long-stick midfielder Taylor Perkins was called for a tripping penalty on the play and Knapton was slow to get up.

During the quarter break, Knapton was tested for concussion symptoms. Goals by Wright and York in the first 83 seconds of the second quarter pushed the lead to 6-1 as Knapton – the first Westbrook player to earn All-America recognition – got the word that he would not be allowed to return.

“Obviously we lose our best guy and that’s going to affect us,” Lyons said. “He’s our offense, our leading scorer.”

Gorham stretched the lead to 11-1 before the first of John Tibbets’ two man-up goals just before halftime.

York scored Gorham’s three goals in the second half.

Westbrook’s Noah Oliver won 17 of 18 faceoffs. Normally that stat goes a long way toward determining the winning team but Gorham focused on negating the advantage. Many of the extra possessions were short-lived and nearly all were unproductive.

“Basically we were neutralizing their fast breaks so they had to play us in settled offense,” Gorham Coach Dan Soule said.

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