LEWISTON — The pressure began from the start and Yarmouth High never let up.

And now the Clippers are going to the state championship game for the first time in 14 years.

Yarmouth took control early and beat Gardiner 5-0 in the Class B South boys’ hockey title game Wednesday night at the Colisee.

Bill Jacobs scored twice. Noah Grondin, Cooper May and Joe Truesdale each added a goal. Patrick Grant, Chris Romano and Owen Ramsay each had two assists. Yarmouth goalie Dan Latham made 21 saves.

Top-seeded Yarmouth (16-4) moves to the Class B state final at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Colisee against Waterville (18-1-1).

Michael Poirier led second-seeded Gardiner (15-5-1) with 29 saves.

This was a rematch of the 2002 and 2001 Class B state finals, both won by Yarmouth.

The Clippers will go for a third state title because of their relentless offense Wednesday. Defenseman Walter Conrad rarely came off the ice and controlled the blue line, with an occasional rush, and Grant created chances in the zone – although neither of them scored.

“Our typical scorers were held off the sheet. Nice to see other guys rise to the occasion,” Coach David St. Pierre said. “We had a lot of great movement of the puck in the offensive zone, which created a lot of opportunities for some other guys.”

Yarmouth finally scored when Grant weaved through the defense and took a backhander. It was blocked. A scrum ensured and Grondin whacked it in at 11:06. Romano also assisted.

Yarmouth outshot the Tigers 14-6 in the first period.

“We wanted to get in there and get right on them,” Grondin said.

The Tigers couldn’t match Yarmouth’s speed.

“They had more pep in their step and they were the better team tonight, for sure,” Gardiner Coach Sam Moore said. “They’re a fast team. They definitely played their game tonight and we weren’t physical enough to slow them down.”

Gardiner had its chances, like in the first period when Tristan Herbert skated across the slot and seemed to have the far post open, but Latham slid over to make the save.

“Can’t tell you enough about Dan,” St. Pierre said. “So happy he got the shutout. Shows that hard work pays off.”

In the second period a Ramsay pass set up a two-on-zero breakaway. Jacobs skated with the puck into the right circle while Grondin came into the slot. Jacobs didn’t need to pass. He buried his shot at 1:57.

“I shot it the way I always do – near side high – and it went in,” Jacobs said.

The Clippers went on a power play shortly after. Romano’s shot was blocked but Jacobs was right there in the slot for the rebound for a 3-0 lead at 5:24. Grant also assisted.

May made it 4-0 at 1:35 of the third. Beating two Tigers to a loose puck in the neutral zone, May skated in, and across the front of the crease before backhanding it in.

Truesdale added a power-play goal at 11:13.

Saturday’s title game will be the second meeting between Yarmouth and Waterville this season. Waterville won 3-2 on Jan. 9.

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