When the Gorham High girls’ lacrosse team graduated two top scorers among 14 seniors last spring, it was unclear where its offense would come from this year.

Mia Rapolla has answered that question loud and clear.

Rapolla, a junior center, already has 75 goals for the Rams this season, averaging between eight and nine per game.

“She’s having a phenomenal season. I would say 85 percent of the time she can beat any player,” said Gorham Coach Ashley Dyer.
“She cradles up, down, dodges through and finds the goal every time.”

Rapolla is also fast. She’s a standout cross country runner in the fall, and uses her speed to be a two-way player, patrolling both sides of the field.

The Rams are 8-1 this season, their only loss coming 17-15 to undefeated Scarborough last Saturday.

Rapolla was heavily guarded in that game by Ellie Morin, another top player, but still scored eight goals.

“I honestly feel like she’s unstoppable,” said Dyer. “I’ve been with her for three years and have been able to watch her grow. By her sophomore year it was evident she would get to this point. But this is absolutely her breakout year. She never scored more than five or six per game before. And now she’s averaging eight or nine.”

Her secret is simple.

Rapolla uses her playmaking ability to supplement her finishing touch.

“Last year I was more of the playmaker,” said Rapolla. “Our girls used to come from behind the net and score. But this year our offense is from mostly in front of the net. That allows us to go left and right, use the openness of the field.”

Rapolla said she and her teammates are hoping to face Scarborough again.

“We’re really hoping to get the second seed and meet them in the (Western Class A) final,” said Rapolla. “We want another crack at them.”

AFTER STARTING the season 1-6, the Thornton Academy boys have strung together three key wins to give themselves a chance to reach the Western Class A playoffs.

The Trojans were the first team to beat South Portland (8-1). The teams met May 18 in South Portland with Thornton prevailing, 5-4. Next, the Trojans knocked off Kennebunk 6-5 in overtime.

“I don’t want to jinx it but it was like we were just missing a few things here and there,” said first-year coach Ryan Hersey. “The last week it seems to be clicking.”

THE WEEKLY www.MaineEliteLacrosse.com boys’ coaches’ poll: 1. Yarmouth,  2. Falmouth, 3. Portland, 4. Brunswick, 5. Cape Elizabeth, 6. Messalonskee, 7. South Portland, 8. Kennebunk, 9. North Yarmouth Academy, 10. Scarborough.

THE WAYNFLETE girls knocked off rival Yarmouth (8-3) with a 12-9 victory Monday night, getting four goals from Morgan Woodhouse and three from Amy Allen.

Waynflete is No. 1 in Western Class B and Yarmouth is No. 1 in Eastern Class B in the Heal point standings.
They have met many times in the state championship game, and have built a longstanding rivalry.

THE BRUNSWICK girls lost just their second game of the season Monday, a 10-9 loss to neighboring Mt. Ararat. The Dragons are still ranked No. 1 in Eastern Class A. The Cheverus girls are No. 2 with a 7-3 record.
 
THE SCARBOROUGH girls (10-0) remain the only undefeated girls’ lacrosse team in the state, regardless of class or region.
The Red Storm will play Kennebunk on Thursday before the regional quarterfinals begin June 9.

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at: jmenendez@pressherald.com