It was just last spring that Abby McInerney and Grace O’Donnell played against each other in the Class B girls’ lacrosse state championship game. O’Donnell scored six goals in leading Yarmouth to a 13-10 victory over McInerney and Cape Elizabeth.

The two shared another remarkable experience this year as freshmen teammates at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The Bantams advanced to the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse final for the fourth consecutive year, losing to SUNY-Cortland, 17-6.

“It was an amazing experience,” said McInerney. “It was a goal for us from the beginning of the year to get there.”

“It was an incredible experience,” said O’Donnell. “It’s sad that it’s over but I’m glad we got to experience it.”

McInerney stepped right into the Bantams’ rotation, finishing with 20 goals and six assists as an attack. She played in 22 games for Trinity, which finished 21-2. O’Donnell alternated between attack and midfield, and got in seven games, scoring two goals.

Katy Dissinger, the Bantams’ coach, said both fit in well on one of the nation’s top small-college programs.

“Their competitiveness is awesome,” she said. “And they are so unique. They have different styles so it’s going to be fun to see how that connection grows.”

O’Donnell and McInerney have known each other for years, through their high school competition and playing on club teams. Being teammates brought them even closer.

“Grace is awesome, she’s one of my really good friends,” said McInerney. “It was nice going into not only Trinity but also lacrosse and already having a friend.”

“It was really nice,” said O’Donnell. “We have always been able to play well together and it really helped the adjustment to college.”

And they had to adjust. Both said the college game is much faster and more challenging than anything they played before.

“I knew it would be faster but I had no idea it would be that much faster,” said McInerney. “And everybody just loves the sport. You are expected to give 100 percent at practice and in games. Everyone holds everyone accountable.”

But, she added, “It’s very rewarding and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

O’Donnell, who hopes to major in biology or public health, said she saw a big difference in speed, stick skills and lacrosse IQ. “And then there’s academics,” she said. “Just trying to balance your classes with sports is challenging.”

McInerney, who plans to study mechanical engineering, entered Trinity hoping to play but said she was “definitely surprised” at her playing time. “I just made sure I worked as hard as I could,” she said.

“Abby has really flourished in college,” said O’Donnell. “She found her niche in the attacking area.”

McInerney’s biggest goal came in the national semifinals when she scored with 1.7 seconds remaining in the first half to tie the game at 4. Trinity went on win, 11-6.

“That was pretty cool,” she said. “One of our senior captains (Caroline Hayes) brought the ball down and drew three girls to her, and then dished it to me. Because she had driven so hard, she had drawn all the girls and I was wide open. I got it, shot it. I had no idea how much time was left.”

Dissinger said McInerney displayed a confidence uncommon in many freshmen. And coming in off the bench, she often surprised the opposition with her speed and skills.

“She is so aggressive and competitive,” said Dissinger. “She is such a competitor. She demands the ball. She knew she could score and get the shot off. I think it was a combination of her confidence and learning to play with the upperclassmen.”

And Dissinger loves what O’Donnell brought to the team. A true midfielder, she tried O’Donnell at attack simply to get her into the game.

“She has incredible skills,” said Dissinger. “And she’s like a little sponge. We would give her advice in practice and she would say, ‘OK,’ and then go and work on it until she got it right.

“I’m excited for both of them, to see what their next three years here will be like.”

BASEBALL

University of Southern Maine junior shortstop Sam Dexter of Oakland (Messalonskee) was named the ABCA/Rawlings Division III national player of the year. Dexter and USM senior pitcher Andrew Richards of South Portland were named to the ABCA/Rawlings Division III All-America first team. Dexter batted .441 with eight home runs and 44 RBI. Richards finished 11-5 with nine saves and a 1.73 earned-run average.

LACROSSE

Bowdoin College senior Natalie Moore of Rye, New York, and junior midfielder Lindsay Picard of New York City were named to the second team of the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association’s All-America team. Moore led the Polar Bears’ defense with 16 caused turnovers and 18 ground balls this spring. Picard scored 45 goals and a team-high 58 points with 65 draw controls. Senior midfielder Taylor Wilson of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was named to the third team. She had 26 goals and 14 assists.

TRACK & FIELD

USM senior Jamie Ruginski of Buxton (Bonny Eagle) was named the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Division III field athlete of the year. Ruginski had an outstanding senior season, winning the long jump in the NCAA Division III outdoor championships with a school-record 24 feet, 61/4 inches and finishing second in the triple jump. The championship was his fourth individual title in two years. He also won the Little East Conference outdoor field athlete of the year for the second straight year.

• USM junior Daniel Webb of Acton (Sanford) was named the LEC outdoor track athlete of the year and freshman Ron Helderman of Madison was named LEC outdoor rookie field athlete of the year.

• USM senior Peyton Dostie of Standish (Bonny Eagle) was named LEC women’s outdoor track athlete of the year. Dostie swept the conference 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles for the third consecutive year. She also ran the anchor leg on the winning 400 relay team and won the high jump.