WATERBORO — For the second straight year, the Massabesic girls lacrosse team pushed past Marshwood in the Class A South finals to advance to the state title game this Saturday in Portland.

The undefeated Mustangs got off to a fast start and controlled the tempo throughout, and grinded out a 6-2 win over one of their biggest rivals.

Massabesic would jump out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of play, getting two goals from Maddie Drain and one apiece from Morgan Pike and Josie Ring. Taylor Manning would net one more score with just 38 seconds remaining in the first half to give Massabesic the 5-0 edge at the break.

Marshwood managed to slow down the Mustang attack in the second half, and outpaced Massabesic 2-1 in the final 25 minutes. Drain would score her third goal early on, but Marshwood got goals from Olivia Melton and Marin Smith  in the final eight minutes. It was too little too late as the Mustangs held on to secure the win.

“Every year with (Marshwood) it’s been a one goal thing, so we came out here today with high intensity and gave them everything we had,” said Ring.

Drain was also proud of the team’s effort, and expected the Mustangs to be in control throughout the contest.

“We expected it for the most part — we practiced hard and we play them every year, they’re a great team, but you have to prepare and go into each game against them with a different outlook. We came out and handled it well, we had most of the control,” said Drain.

The Mustangs will move on to face Messalonskee in the state title on Saturday. This will be a rematch of the 2016 state final, where Messalonskee pulled off the come from behind, overtime win to shock the Mustangs.

Ring and Drain look forward to the chance at redemption.

“It drives us a lot, it’s because it hits home for us what happened last year,” said Ring. “We have a new group of girls here, it’s been special and we know what we have to do on Saturday.”

“It’s great — it feels amazing. Our motto this year has been ‘unfinished business,’ so we’re going to come back even harder this year,” added Drain.

Experience will be a factor for Massabesic, who returns most of the same group as last year. The Mustangs hope to use what they learned in last year’s heartbreaking finish to propel them to a victory this time around.

“Our experience is good — we’ve had some new players brought in but we’re a family and we’ve been working really well together,” said Drain. “We’re definitely taking it that we need to come out harder. Last year we let it slip a little too early but this year we’re learning and moving on.”

“I think (experience) is going to help us a lot because a lot of these girls were here last year and know how it feels,” said Ring. “We know what we have to do so hopefully we bring it all.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.