Yarmouth’s girls’ lacrosse team celebrates after beating Waynflete, 9-4, Friday.

BOX SCORE

Yarmouth 9 Waynflete 4

W- 0 4- 4
Y- 5 4- 9

First half
19:17 Y Groothoff (Grant)
17:13 Y Lowenstein (unassisted)
14:18 Y Abi Thornton (free position)
13:27 Y Grondin (unassisted)
25.8 Y Groothoff (Lowenstein)

Second half
22:48 Y Groothoff (Grondin)
21:42 W Wagg (free position)
21:09 W Wagg (Parr)
13:38 W Parr (Connors)
9:42 Y Groothoff (free position)
8:36 W Sherry (unassisted)
6:28 Y Groothoff (Teare)
2:56 Y Anna Thornton (unassisted)

Goals:
W- Wagg 2, Parr, Sherry 1
Y- Groothoff 5, Grondin, Lowenstein, Abi Thornton, Anna Thornton 1

Assists:
W- Connors, Parr 1
Y- Grant, Grondin, Lowenstein, Teare 1

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Draws (Waynflete, 8-7)
W- Connors 7 of 11, Boedeker 1 of 4
Y-Groothoff 5 of 12, Grondin 2 of 3

Ground balls:
W- 23
Y- 38

Turnovers:
W- 18
Y- 9

Shots:
W- 9
Y- 31

Shots on cage:
W- 8
Y- 22

Saves:
W (Akers) 13
Y (Serrano) 4

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YARMOUTH—Yarmouth’s girls’ lacrosse team couldn’t have asked for a better regular season finale.

The Clippers got pushed by ascendant Waynflete, but thanks to a fast start and five goals from junior Ehryn Groothoff, Yarmouth was able to prevail on Senior Night, 9-4.

Goals from Groothoff, sophomore Annie Lowenstein, senior Abi Thornton, senior Kyaira Grondin and Groothoff produced a 5-0 halftime.

The Flyers refused to go quietly, however, and after Groothoff scored early in the second half, junior Emily Wagg got the visitors’ first two goals and senior Marady Parr added another to pull Waynflete within three.

Groothoff restored order with a goal, but sophomore Kilee Sherry answered to make it 7-4.

The Flyers couldn’t draw any closer, however, and goals from Groothoff and sophomore Anna Thornton slammed the door, allowing the Clippers to finish a better-than-expected regular season at 11-1 and end Waynflete’s regular campaign at 5-7 in the process.

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And now the fun really begins for the Clippers, who have won 10 games in a row and will be the top seed in Class B yet again.

“I’m thrilled with our season,” said Yarmouth coach Dorothy Holt. “I didn’t know what to expect. I lost a lot from last year. There were a lot of former players here tonight and they weren’t wearing Yarmouth jerseys, so to be where we are is special in itself.”

Pleasant surprise

Yarmouth was expected to be its competitive self this spring, but no one saw it being this good after being so hard-hit by graduation.

The Clippers started with a 14-7 home win over Freeport and after losing late to visiting Massabesic, 10-9, Yarmouth eked out a pivotal 7-6 victory at Kennebunk, then got a measure of revenge from last year with a 14-11 home win over Cape Elizabeth in a Class B state final rematch and rolled at North Yarmouth Academy, 13-2, and at home over St. Dom’s (17-7). The Clippers then defeated host Marshwood (14-7), Lake Region (15-4) and York (13-5) before downing visiting Messalonskee, 14-5. Wednesday, Yarmouth dispatched host Greely, 14-6.

Waynflete, meanwhile, started with a 9-8 loss at Cheverus, then won, 12-3, at Wells. After falling at “home” to Greely, 10-5, in a game played at Fitzpatrick Stadium, the Flyers held off visiting Scarborough, 6-4. After falling at home to defending Class A champion Falmouth (10-2) and at Marshwood (5-3), Waynflete eked out a 6-5 overtime home win over York. The Flyers fell at defending Class B champion Cape Elizabeth, 13-3, but rebounded to defeat host Lake Region, the defending Class C champion, 8-2. After a 7-6, double-overtime home loss to York, Waynflete clinched a playoff spot Wednesday with an 11-2 win over St. Dom’s in a game played at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

The teams have played their share of memorable games over the years, including three state final battles between 2006 and 2013 (with the Clippers winning in 2006 and 2011 and the Flyers in 2013). A year ago, Yarmouth won, 13-6, in Portland, cutting Waynflete’s advantage to 16-13 in games played since 2002 (see sidebar below).

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Friday, the Flyers sought their first win over the Clippers since the 2013 Class B state final (7-4), but Yarmouth was able to make it seven straight in the series.

Waynflete junior goalie Avis Akers kept her team in it early, denying shots by Abi Thornton and Anna Thornton, but with 19:17 to go in the first half, the Clippers went on top to stay, when senior Hannah Grant set up Groothoff.

The Flyers had a chance to tie the score when Parr was awarded a free position, but she missed wide.

Then, with 17:13 on the clock, Lowenstein scored unassisted to make it 2-0

Akers denied Lowenstein and Grondin, but with 14:18 to go, Abi Thornton converted a free position and 51 seconds later, Grondin scored unassisted for a 4-0 advantage.

After Yarmouth senior goalie Izzy Serrano preserved the shutout by robbing Parr and denying Sherry, Groothoff got a lucky bounce for the Clippers’ fifth goal with 25.8 seconds remaining, as she couldn’t catch a pass from Lowenstein, but the ball deflected off her stick and in.

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Yarmouth had an 18-8 edge in ground balls and a commanding 21-3 advantage in shots in the first half. Only nine saves from Akers, several of them spectacular, kept Waynflete’s hopes alive.

Flyers freshman Jesse Connors had a chance to get her team on the board early in the second half, but her free position shot was saved by Serrano.

Then, at the other end, Groothoff scored from Grondin to make it 6-0 with 22:45 left.

But just when it appeared Waynflete had no chance, the Flyers roared back with three straight goals to make things interesting.

First, after Serrano robbed Wagg, Wagg scored on a free position with 21:42 remaining.

Just 33 seconds later, Wagg took a pass from Parr and finished to cut the deficit to 6-2.

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The third goal came with 13:38 on the clock and it came in transition, as Connors delivered a pretty pass to Parr who finished, making it a three-goal game and forcing Holt to call timeout.

It helped, as with 9:42 to go, Groothoff scored on a free position.

Undaunted, Waynflete answered again, as with 8:36 to play, Sherry bounced a shot past Serrano to make it 7-4, but the Flyers never were able to pull closer and make things truly stressful for the host team.

Groothoff’s fifth goal came with 6:28 left, as she finished a feed from sophomore Natalie Teare, and with 2:56 to play, Anna Thornton scored unassisted to bring the curtain down on the Clippers’ 9-4 victory.

“We didn’t come out as well as we’d like to in the second half,” Groothoff said. “We played well in the first half, but we have to do it the whole game. We learned we have to dig deep. I’m really proud of our whole team. We’ve worked so hard this year.”

“I just told the girls to take care of the ball and play as a team and work hard,” Holt said. “We got a little flat-footed and didn’t take care of the ball. Our shots weren’t at the corners. We settled down and played Yarmouth lacrosse. We had to regain our composure. It was a great game for us going into playoffs. We needed a test and they gave it to us. They have the best coach in the state (Cathie Connors) and they’re a young team that’s just getting better.”

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Groothoff had a tremendous day, outscoring Waynflete by herself with five goals.

“My teammates assisted every one of my goals,” Groothoff said. “We had great ball movement.”

“Ehryn is one of the most calm, cool, collected players,” said Holt. ‘She knows when to take shots, when to set players up. She’s like having a coach on the field. She did a great job today.”

Grondin, Lowenstein, Abi Thornton and Anna Thornton each had one goal.

Grant, Grondin, Lowenstein and Teare all had one assist.

Serrano made four saves.

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Yarmouth had a 38-23 edge in ground balls (Groothoff led the way with eight and freshman Katelyn D’Appolonia scooped up seven), ousthot Waynflete, 31-9 (22-8 on cage) and only turned the ball over nine times.

Promising

Waynflete was led by two goals from Wagg. Parr and Sherry each scored once.

Jesse Connors and Parr had assists.

Akers excelled with 13 saves.

“Their goalie made a lot of big saves,” Holt said. “She’s good.”

Wagg, senior Emi Boedeker and junior Clara Sandberg shared team-high ground ball honors with four apiece.

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Jesse Connors won seven of her 11 draw opportunities to help the Flyers hold an 8-7 edge in that category.

Waynflete turned the ball over 18 times.

“It was an awesome effort and I’m really proud,” Cathie Connors said. “The girls did a lot of encouraging things. The defense was spot-on. Avis was on fire. The middies figured it out. We were timid to start, trying to not lose. We had trouble with possession, but in the second half, the girls were willing to take risks. We switched the draw and we got some confidence.”

Away we go

Waynflete projects to be the No. 10 seed in Class B and will play a preliminary round playoff game, likely Wednesday. Likely at Camden Hills, a team the Flyers have never faced in the postseason.

“There were a couple one-goal games I’d like back, but we’ve taken baby steps this season,” Cathie Connors said. “This was a great way to go into the playoffs. I think we’ll go to Camden next. Now the fun begins. After playing like this, we’ll have more confidence.”

Yarmouth is the top seed in Class B again and will next take the field Friday, June 7 or Saturday, June 8 for the quarterfinal round. Cony or Mt. Ararat is the likely foe.

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“We’re young, but to have a regular season like we did is very exciting,” Groothoff said. “We just have to keep working hard. We play like we practice and we’ll have to bring intensity to practice. From now on, it’s 0-0. We’re just taking it game-by-game.”

“We hadn’t talked about the postseason, but now, we’ll talk about it,” Holt said. “We have to keep taking it game-by-game. Having homefield advantage is big. We like being at home. We know our field.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Recent Waynflete-Yarmouth results

2018
Yarmouth 13 @ Waynflete 6

2017
@ Yarmouth 12 Waynflete 4

2016
@ Yarmouth 4 Waynflete 3 

2015
Yarmouth 8 @ Waynflete 6 

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2014
@ Yarmouth 11 Waynflete 4
Yarmouth 7 @ Waynflete 6 (OT)

2013
Waynflete 17 @ Yarmouth 5
@ Waynflete 16 Yarmouth 10
Class B State Final
Waynflete 7 Yarmouth 4

2012
@ Waynflete 13 Yarmouth 2
Waynflete 17 @ Yarmouth 7

2011
@ Waynflete 11 Yarmouth 10
@ Yarmouth 13 Waynflete 8
Class B State Final
Yarmouth 9 Waynflete 8

2010
@ Waynflete 8 Yarmouth 6
Waynflete 12 @ Yarmouth 9

2009
Waynflete 8 @ Yarmouth 6

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2008
Waynflete 13 @ Yarmouth 7
@ Waynflete 13 Yarmouth 5

2007
Yarmouth 7 @ Waynflete 5
@ Yarmouth 12 Waynflete 5

2006
Waynflete 8 @ Yarmouth 7
Class B State Final
Yarmouth 12 Waynflete 5

2005
Waynflete 11 @ Yarmouth 6

2004
@ Waynflete 9 Yarmouth 8

2003
Waynflete 7 @ Yarmouth 6
@ Waynflete 10 Yarmouth 7

2002
@ Yarmouth 8 Waynflete 6
Yarmouth 8 @ Waynflete 3

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