KENNEBUNK — It was as improbable as it was impressive.
That being the come-from-behind, 8-7 win pulled off by Massabesic in overtime against Kennebunk, in an SMAA girls lacrosse game at Veterans Memorial Field.
Alyssa Gilman’s goal at 1:50 of the extra, six-minute session held up as the game-winner, and gave the Mustangs their first and only lead.
It put the capstone on Massabesic’s successful effort to erase a daunting five-goal deficit.
“We woke up,” said junior attack Heather Everett, who netted four goals. “We took our anger and put it into a place where it had to be put.”
For Gilman, that meant breaking from behind the net to flip in what turned out to be the decisive tally.
“I didn’t know if I should take (the shot),” said Gilman. “It was a bad angle. But I saw up top was pretty clear, so I just tossed it in.”
“I didn’t care who put it in. I just wanted to win that game. Put a ”˜W’ in the column,” said Everett. “It’s nice to be 6-2.”
None of this seemed likely as the game unfolded, when Kennebunk (4-3) launched out to a hefty 5-0 lead.
Kate Graydon led the Rams’ charge with three goals in that span, while Rose Bryant chipped in two more.
Bryant got things going with a free position goal at 4:47.
Graydon followed in like manner less than two minutes later.
“That’s not the start that we wanted to get off to,” said Massabesic coach Brooks Bowen. “To get down to a quality team like that. It’s a battle to get back.”
The Mustangs finally got untracked, late in the half, by scoring three goals in a span of 1:06.
“They got a little bit of momentum,” said Kennebunk coach Annie Barker. “But I don’t think that was a factor. We did a couple things with the ball that we probably shouldn’t have.”
Sam Emmons polished off a free position opportunity at 20:55 to make it 5-1.
Massabesic won the ensuing faceoff, which allowed Everett to break in alone on Rams goalie Liz Stockbridge and cut the margin to three goals.
“I really just wanted to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Everett. “That’s where I need to put it for my team. My sisters. It wasn’t just me.”
Everett finished the spree at 22:01 by parking a low bouncer.
“Heather always has the intensity to bring the team up, when we’re low,” said Gilman. “When she gets one shot in, she says, ”˜Ladies, we can do this.’ And it just goes from there.”
However, with 31 seconds remaining in the half, Bryant scored her third goal to make it 6-3 heading into halftime.
Massabesic cut Kennebunk’s lead to 6-5 with goals from Everett and Rayne Whitten.
But with 3:48 to play, Bryant scored on a give and go with Ali Bush to make it 7-5 for Kennebunk.
Still, the Mustangs weren’t finished yet.
They made up the gap in the final 1:18, with goals from Gilman and Everett, with Everett getting the deadlocker from a free position with 31 seconds left in regulation.
That set the stage for Gilman’s game-winner.
Both teams will hit the road Thursday, with Massabesic set to visit Thornton Academy, while Kennebunk will be at Cheverus.
— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less