MADISON — Championship pedigrees mean something this time of year.

Teams that have played for or won titles know what it takes to do it again. And that’s a big reason why the Waynflete girls’ soccer team is back in the state championship game for a second consecutive year.

The fifth-ranked Flyers rallied for two goals in the second half Wednesday to defeat second-seeded Madison 2-1 in the Class C South title game.

Ava Farrar scored the winning goal on a breakaway with 23:04 left to give Waynflete its fifth regional championship in nine years.

The Flyers (11-4-2) will play Orono (13-1-3) in the state final at 3 p.m. Saturday at Hampden Academy. It’s a rematch of last year’s final won by Orono 3-2 in double overtime.

“This means the world to us,” said Farrar. “It’s the best feeling. And it’s impossible to describe.”

“To get there again is just a great feeling,” said Waynflete Coach Todd Dominski. “And it’s great for the kids. They’ve put a lot of hard work in and been striving for this.”

Madison (16-2) led 1-0 at the half on a goal by Sydney LeBlanc set up by Madeline Wood just under 10 minutes in. At the half, the Flyers talked about not ending their season with doubts.

“When we left the field we wanted to make sure we left it all on the field, basically,” said Dominski. “We gave up the first goal and it definitely took a lot of energy out of us … We came out in the second half with a purpose.”

And when the Flyers got one just six minutes into the second half – on a perfectly executed corner kick – they regained control.

Isabel Canning kicked it in from the left corner to Farrar in the middle of the box. Farrar got a foot on the ball and it went to the left of the net. Amelia Bertaska then pushed it back to the right, where Elisabeth Lualdi put it in to tie the game.

“I think goals, especially at this level, really sway the momentum of a game,” said Canning, who also played a stellar defensive game. “And in this kind of upper-level intensity game, goals are so rare and special that they definitely have more pull than a regular-season game.”

The Flyers finally broke through again when Farrar took a through pass just past midfield. Going to the right, she nudged the ball back to the left past a defender and found herself going in one-on-one with keeper Lauren Hay.

At that point, said Farrar, a junior, “I’m thinking I have to score this. I’m thinking this is my moment to do it for the seniors. It’s a have-to, not a should.”

As Hay raced out to challenge her, Farrar kicked the ball inside the left post and the Flyers led 2-1 with 23:04 left.

“She’s very quick and crafty,” said Dominski. “She was actually very composed on the goal. She got in, she got her head up and put it to the side netting.”

Madison would have a couple of chances in the final 10 minutes, but couldn’t crack Waynflete’s defense.

“I’m not dissatisfied with the way we played,” said Michael Walsh, coach of the Bulldogs. “The girls gave all they had. Their hearts were in the game and they played to the end. That’s just soccer.”

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