Class C girls

St. Dominic (11-3) vs. Lake Region (11-2), Friday, 5 p.m.

(at Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland)

Players to watch: St. Dominic – Charlotte Gastonguay (fr. attack/midfield), Caroline Gastonguay (sr. attack/midfield), Avery Lutrzykowski (jr. attack/midfield), Emma Theriault (jr. attack), Simone Long (goalkeeper). Lake Region – Rachel Shanks (sr. attack), Melissa Bonenfant (sr. attack), Lindsey Keenan (sr. attack), Lauren Jakobs (sr. midfield), Olivia Deschenes (sr. defense).

Of note: These teams met in early May and the game stretched into a second overtime before host Lake Region won, 11-10. The only other losses for St. Dom’s came against Yarmouth and Waynflete. The Lakers have lost only to Class B finalists Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth, the latter in double overtime. Both teams feature prolific offenses with multiple options that run through experienced playmakers (Keenan of Lake Region and Caroline Gastonguay of the Saints). They also feature aggressive defenses, so expect a high-scoring affair. Lake Region employs a different keeper for each half, with Maddie Nelson and Emily Lake sharing the load. This marks the first state championship appearance for each school, but don’t be fooled by the quality of the finalists in this inaugural season of Class C lacrosse. “Even if we were in Class B, Class A, I think we could take any team,” said Keenan, who will play college lacrosse at American International. Her teammate, Jakobs, will play at Assumption College.

– Glenn Jordan

Class C boys

Lincoln Academy (13-1) vs. Waynflete (10-4), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

(at Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland)

Players to watch: Waynflete – Will Armstrong (sr. goalie), Hank Duvall (sr. midfielder), John Veroneau (sr. defense), Miles Lipton (jr. midfield). Lincoln Academy – Nolen Michael (jr. attack), Nate Simmons (sr. midfield), Ethan Avantaggio (sr. defense), Damon Westhaver (sr. goalkeeper).

Of note: Neither program has won a state title. This is Waynflete’s first state final appearance in 19 years. The Flyers went 3-9 last year and did not qualify for the playoffs. In Waynflete’s 18-6 semifinal win over NYA, Lipton (36 goals, 11 assists during the regular season) scored six goals and Duvall (40 goals, 26 assists) added three. They have benefited from Waynflete’s quick-strike offense off transition. For Lincoln, Michael (61 goals this year) scored five times in a 12-11 semifinal victory over Fryeburg Academy, and Simmons (36 goals, 10 assists) got the winner with 5:41 remaining. The Eagles are on a six-game winning streak since their only loss (12-3 to Camden Hills on May 17), the only time this season they failed to scored at least 10 goals. The Eagles’ offense thrives on transition and odd-man rushes. Lincoln Academy lost in the Class B prelims the past two years.

– Brad Spiegel

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