PORTLAND — After winning a matchup that was déjà vu on paper, the Massabesic Mustangs girl’s lacrosse team are State of Maine Class A champions.

The team defeated Messalonskee 13-4 Saturday at Fitzpatrick stadium in Portland, one year after falling to the Messalonskee squad 7-6 in a game that required overtime.

Massabesic opened the scoring with two goals in the opening five minutes of play, but Messalonskee answered halfway through the first half with two quick goals off fast breaks to tie the game at 2-2.

The contest then shifted in the Mustangs favor as they looked patient, poised and continually dominated possession — consistencies of theirs that have led to an undefeated season.

“We had talked about doing what we do,” head coach Brooks Bowen after the game. “Which is getting into the offensive sets we run, get going and keep the ball moving with speed and accuracy; and we did that.”

Bowen said during last year’s finals match the team fell into a lethargic rhythm after they’d taken a slim lead, and keeping up intensity had been a point of emphasis throughout the season.

“We just held the ball, we didn’t really do a whole lot with it when we had it. This year we really focused on getting the ball and keeping our feet moving, and the combination of the two have really paid off,” Bowen said.

After the Eagles had tied the score 2-2, the Massabesic squad answered with two goals a piece from senior Taylor Manning and junior Morgan Pike to bring the score to 6-3 by halftime.

Massabesic would go on to outscore the Eagles 7-1 in the second half with three goals from junior Madison Drain, who after the game said the team did what it needed to do this season to ensure a win this time around.

“Last year we had an issue with our communication, there was a lot of forcing the ball,” said Drain. “But this season overall we took a step back, saw what we needed to do and just went for it.”

The Mustangs finish the season as Class A champions with an undefeated 15-0 record. But for Bowen — record aside — being back in the finals again was a feat in itself.

“In any sport, to get to a state championship game is so challenging, you really wish every student-athlete could get to experience it,” Bowen said. “So we’re just lucky to be here today.

Comments are not available on this story.