KENNEBUNK — The state’s two remaining unbeaten Class A girls’ lacrosse teams met on the field Monday night, with a variety of expectations.

Whatever those expectations, it’s hard to believe anyone considered the possibility that running time would be invoked a little more than seven minutes into the second half.

And yet, that’s what happened when Kennebunk’s lead reached double digits as the Rams cruised past Windham 17-4 on the strength of a multi-faceted offense and suffocating defense.

“It was surprising,” said Kennebunk senior defender Dani Glassman, who scored one goal and assisted on another. “And that added to us having to keep our composure. But we weren’t going to react to them. We were going to see how they reacted to us, and we set the tone.”

Indeed, Kennebunk (9-0) won the opening draw, got the ball to sophomore Ruby Sliwkowski, and she found senior Lily Schwartzman cutting through the middle for the first of Schwartzman’s seven goals. Less than half a minute had elapsed.

Windham (6-1) attempted to answer, but two shots by senior Emma Yale missed the frame and two others struck the crossbar. Both Yale and Schwartzman reached career milestones of 100 goals last week, but Kennebunk’s defense – backstopped by seven saves from keeper Lily Jansen – was able to hold Yale scoreless.

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“We tried to limit her from getting the ball,” Kennebunk Coach Annie Barker said. “We knew that the ball was going to be thrown to her or (Riley Beem).”

After a Sliwkowski goal from free position, Yale fed Beem to make it a 2-1 game. The Rams responded with seven straight goals to take a commanding 9-1 lead and were never again threatened.

It was 11-3 at intermission. Beem notched her third goal shortly thereafter but Windham failed to score again.

“They played great,” Windham Coach Matt Perkins said. “We played our worst game. From drops to turnovers to you name it.”

Both teams entered the week with perfect records and mostly lopsided victories. Windham’s only close contest was a season-opening 11-9 decision over defending Class A state champion Falmouth. Similarly, Kennebunk had beaten every opponent soundly save Yarmouth, which lost 10-8 to the Rams in late April.

“We knew they would be very physical,” Barker said of the Eagles. “We knew they would come out and three people on the person with the ball. But when you do that, there’s two people who are not covered. So just be patient, because it’s open. We found the holes.”

Junior Sydney Dumas scored five goals and added two assists. Sliwkowski had five assists and two goals. Emily Archibald, a 6-1 basketball player bound for Providence College, scored twice and helped counterbalance Beem’s ability to win draws.

Archibald is playing lacrosse for the first time since her freshman year in 2018.

“Obviously I was a little rusty, but this group is just so fun to play with,” Archibald said. “They were so welcoming to have me back.”


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