BOX SCORE

York 12 Waynflete 10

Y- 6 6- 12
W- 5 5- 10

First half
23:24 Y C. Pavuk (unassisted)
22:50 Y R. Pavuk (C. Pavuk)
20:21 Y LaPierre (unassisted)
17:42 W Connors (K. Bliss)
14:37 W Sherry (unassisted)
13:06 Y C. Pavuk (free position)
9:54 W Dinapoli (Connors)
5:25 Y R. Pavuk (free position)
1:32 W K. Bliss (Connors)
1:06 W Millspaugh (Dinapoli)
:23 Y Leroux (C. Pavuk)

Second half
24:03 Y R. Pavuk (Leroux)
23:13 Y R. Pavuk (Leroux)
22:15 W Dinapoli (unassisted)
19:02 W C. Bliss (unassisted)
18:38 W Connors (Dinapoli)
16:41 Y Bardwell (C. Pavuk)
16:09 Y Armlin (C. Pavuk)
10:07 Y R. Pavuk (unassisted)
8:45 W Connors (Sherry)
3:20 Y R. Pavuk (Bardwell)
1:58 W C. Bliss (free position)

Goals:
Y- R. Pavuk 6, C. Pavuk 2, Armlin, Bardwell, LaPierre, Leroux 1
W- Connors 3, C. Bliss, Dinapoli 2, K. Bliss, Millspaugh, Sherry 1

Assists:
Y- C. Pavuk 4, Leroux 2, Bardwell 1
W- Connors, Dinapoli 2, K. Bliss, Sherry 1

Draws (York, 13-11)
Y- C. Pavuk 12 of 22, R. Pavuk 1 of 2
W- Connors 5 of 13, Sherry 3 of 6, Millspaugh 3 of 5

Ground balls:
Y- 41
W- 42

Turnovers:
Y- 21
W- 23

Shots:
Y- 23
W- 22

Shots on cage:
Y- 18
W- 14

Saves:
Y (Kiklis) 4
W (Girard) 6

PORTLAND—Waynflete’s girls’ lacrosse team twice was able to erase three-goal deficits Wednesday afternoon against York at Hall Field, but a third one proved to be too much to overcome.

After the Wildcats shot to a quick 3-0 lead, the Flyers settled down and thanks to goals from five different players, including the tying tally from junior Lolie Millspaugh, made it 5-5.

York retook the lead just before halftime, however, when senior Kristen Leroux scored with 23 seconds left, then junior Rose Pavuk scored twice early in the second half for an 8-5 advantage.

Again, valiant Waynflete rose off the deck, as senior Claire Dinapoli, freshman Cece Bliss and junior Jess Connors all scored to tie it again, 8-8.

But the Wildcats simply wouldn’t let the Flyers go ahead and with 16:41 remaining, junior Alexis Bardwell put the visitors ahead to stay and goals from sophomore Abigail Armlin and Pavuk opened it up.

This time, Waynflete couldn’t answer and York went on to a 12-10 victory.

The Wildcats got six goals from Pavuk, improved to 2-0 on the season and in the process, dropped the Flyers to 1-1.

“The girls kept coming back and to me, that just shows so much,” said longtime Waynflete coach Cathie Connors. “I figured out what my team can do when we’re behind. We had a slow start and that was hard on us, but I’m so proud of the girls for not giving up.”

New classification

Waynflete dominated the one-class system, which was in effect through 2005, then was a powerhouse for most of its time in Class B as well, but this spring, for the first time, the Flyers are in Class C, joining the school’s boys’ squad, which has been there since the implementation of the three-class system in 2018.

Waynflete hopes to return to glory this spring and opened in style, with a 14-0 home win over Fryeburg Academy last Thursday, as 11 different players scored goals.

York, meanwhile, started Monday with a dramatic 13-12 home victory over Cape Elizabeth.

In 2019, the host Flyers edged the Wildcats in overtime, 6-5.

Waynflete also beat York in OT in 2018, 8-7, in York.

Wednesday, on a 52-degree day which saw rain and sun at varying times, the teams produced another close contest, but York never trailed and was eventually able to do just enough to win at Waynflete for the first time.

The game was delayed nearly 20 minutes by a flash of lightning during warmups, then, after the Flyers won the opening draw but turned the ball over, the Wildcats scored on their first shot, as with 23:24 to go in the first half, junior Clara Pavuk scored unassisted, firing past Waynflete junior goalie Emily Girard to break the ice.

A mere 34 seconds later, Rose Pavuk scored for the first time, taking a pass from Clara Pavuk and finishing to double the lead.

York went up 3-0 with 20:21 remaining in the half, as junior Ashley LaPierre scooped up a loose ball and scored.

Cathie Connors then called timeout and the Flyers awakened.

After Wildcats senior goalie Katrina Kiklis denied Jess Connors and Bliss, Connors got Waynflete on the board, finishing a feed from senior Kaitlin Bliss to cut the deficit to two with 17:42 to go before halftime.

With 14:37 on the clock, the Flyers drew closer, as senior Kilee Sherry intercepted a clearing pass, then raced in and beat Kiklis to make it 3-2.

York answered with 13:06 remaining in the half, as Clara Pavuk scored on a free position, but with 9:54 to go, Connors set up Dinapoli to make it a one-goal game again, 4-3.

After Connors raced up the field, leaving the defense in her wake before missing just wide, Rose Pavuk scored on a free position with 5:25 left before halftime, but Connors set up Kaitlin Bliss for a goal with 1:32 remaining, then, 26 seconds later, Dinapoli fed Millspaugh to tie the score, 5-5.

The Wildcats regained momentum before the break, however, as with 23 seconds to go, Clara Pavuk delivered a gorgeous pass just past the sticks of several Waynflete defenders right to Leroux on the doorstep and Leroux finished for a 6-5 halftime lead.

The first 25 minutes were pretty even, as each team won six draws, each goalie made three saves, each team committed 11 turnovers and York had a 12-11 edge in shots.

The second half would remain competitive as well, but ultimately, the Wildcats just had a little too much.

Just 57 seconds in, in transition, after a Flyers’ turnover, York made it 7-5, as Leroux set up Rose Pavuk for a goal.

Then, with 23:13 remaining, the same combination connected and the Wildcats were back in front by three.

But not for long.

Dinapoli started the comeback with 22:15 on the clock, scoring unassisted after fighting her way through the defense.

Then, after Girard stopped a free position shot from Clara Pavuk, Cece Bliss finished unassisted with 19:02 to play.

It then took Waynflete all of 24 seconds to pull even, as after the Flyers won the draw, Dinapoli passed to Connors, who scored with 18:38 remaining and for the second time, the game was deadlocked, 8-8.

Girard preserved the tie with 16:54 to go, denying a free position shot by Clara Pavuk, but 13 seconds later, York went ahead to stay, as Bardwell scored (from Clara Pavuk)

With 16:09 left, Clara Pavuk set up Armlin for a goal and after Kiklis denied Connors on a free position and Sherry missed wide, with 10:07 remaining, Rose Pavuk scored unassisted for an 11-8 lead.

This time, Waynflete couldn’t respond.

Out of a timeout, Sherry fed Connors for a goal with 8:45 to play, cutting the deficit to two, but the Flyers couldn’t get any closer and with 3:20 remaining, Rose Pavuk scored for the final time, from Bardwell, to extend the lead to three once more.

Cece Bliss scored on a free position with 1:58 on the clock, but Clara Pavuk won the ensuing draw and the Wildcats were able to run out the clock and celebrate their 12-10 victory.

Rose Pavuk led all scorers with six goals. Clara Pavuk added two goals and had four assists. Armlin, Bardwell (one assist), LaPierre and Leroux (two assists) each finished with one goal.

Kiklis made four saves and Rose Pavuk led the team with 10 ground balls (Clara Pavuk collected seven).

York finished with a 13-11 edge in draws (Clara Pavuk won 12 of her 22 opportunities), a 23-22 shots advantage (18-14 on cage) and overcame 21 turnovers.

Waynflete was led by Jess Connors, who had three goals, two assists and a game-high 13 ground balls.

Cece Bliss and Dinapoli (two assists) each added two goals and Kaitlin Bliss (one assist), Millspaugh and Sherry (one assist) all had one goal.

“We’re not depending on one person to score,” Cathie Connors said. “Everybody cares about each other and wants to make each other look good. ”

The Flyers got six saves from Girard and had a 42-41 edge in ground balls, but 23 turnovers proved too much to overcome.

“We had too many turnovers and we struggled on the draw,” said Cathie Connors. “We have to work more on that. York was quicker to the ball.”

Road gets tougher

Waynflete stays home to face reigning Class C champion St. Dom’s next Wednesday. Then, the Flyers host perennial power Yarmouth May 3 before going to Cheverus two days later.

“I take a lot from this,” Cathie Connors said. “We’re missing some players too and we’ll be happy to have them back. We haven’t even had time to work on our zone or to work on breaking the stall. I feel great. The girls work so hard. They want to work together. I’m so glad we’re back out here. The girls just want to play. It makes us happy.”

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

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