YARMOUTH—Yarmouth’s girls’ lacrosse team has played its share of down-to-the-wire games this spring and Tuesday afternoon, at home against Waynflete, it appeared the Clippers might get pushed to the end yet again.

But this time, Yarmouth, thanks in part to an offensive explosion from senior Brooke Boone, combined with some pivotal saves from senior goalie Regan Sullivan, managed to pull away and go on to a decisive victory.

The Clippers shot to a quick 4-1 lead, were up 4-3 after one quarter, then got a goal from sophomore Celia Zinman to start the second period, but the Flyers, behind goals from junior Lydia Birknes and senior standout Tilsley Kelly tied the score.

Boone then gave Yarmouth the lead for good and fellow senior star Aine Powers struck as well and with Sullivan making eight critical saves, the score was 7-5 at halftime.

Waynflete continued to hang around in the third quarter and when Kelly scored late on a free position shot, the Flyers were only down by two, but in the final minute of the frame, Boone set up junior Sierra Hunt for a goal, then senior Lauren Keaney scored as well to make it 12-8.

Boone then started the final stanza by setting up Powers for a goal, then she scored three more times to end all doubt and the Clippers went on to a 17-10 victory.

Boone scored a career-high seven goals, assisted on two others, and Sullivan stopped 13 shots as Yarmouth won its fourth straight game, improved to 8-2 and in the process, dropped Waynflete to 7-3.

“We usually wait to get amped up, but we started super-strong, then that energy carried right through the end,” said Boone, a three-sport standout, who scored a goal in the Clippers’ victory in the girls’ soccer state final victory back in November, then won a pair of individual Alpine skiing titles in February.

Title hopefuls

Yarmouth was the runner-up in Class A last season and is on the short list of favorites again, while Waynflete appears to be the team to beat in Class C.

The Clippers began the 2024 season with a narrow 8-7 loss at Falmouth, then came to life and defeated host York (13-6), visiting Cheverus (10-8), host Lake Region (17-0) and host Cape Elizabeth (15-10). After a down-to-the-wire 8-7 home loss to three-time reigning Class A champion Kennebunk, Yarmouth edged visiting Windham (14-13), beat visiting Marshwood (20-9) and last Friday, rallied to nip host Greely on Zinman’s goal at the buzzer, 8-7.

The Flyers, meanwhile, have lived up to preseason billing, defeating visiting Lake Region (16-2), visiting Portland (18-6), host St. Dom’s (15-0) and host Gray-New Gloucester (13-2) and after losing at two-time reigning Class B champion Greely (10-8), they outscored visiting Scarborough, 17-13, and avenged last year’s playoff loss with a 14-6 win at North Yarmouth Academy. After a 10-6 loss at Class A Gorham, Waynflete defeated visiting Wells Friday, 9-5.

Last year, Yarmouth beat the visiting Flyers, 11-5, to make it 10 straight in the series (see sidebar, below).

The contest featured two of the most storied coaches in girls’ lacrosse annals, as Waynflete’s Cathie Connors entered with 327 victories, while the Clippers Dorothy Holt had 220, good for a combined total of 547.

Tuesday, on a very pleasant 61-degree day, Waynflete was looking to top the Clippers for the first time since the 2013 Class B state final (7-4) and win in Yarmouth for the first time since April 23, 2013 (17-5), but instead, the Clippers continued to roll.

Kelly won the draw to start the game, the Flyers set up on offense and 47 seconds in, Kelly bounced a shot past Sullivan and just under the crossbar and in for an auspicious beginning for the visitors.

But it would prove to be Waynflete’s highwater mark.

At the other end, with 10:18 left in the opening quarter, Boone first made her presence felt by beating Flyers freshman goalie Mya Clark with a free position shot.

Sullivan then found her groove, denying Birknes, senior Chloe Marblestone and Marblestone again.

After Clark stopped a Boone free position shot, Keaney put home the rebound to put Yarmouth in front with 7:46 remaining.

After Boone hit the post, she got a loose ball and raced in and scored unassisted with 6:35 to go, forcing Connors to call timeout.

It helped initially, as Kelly won the draw and senior Morgan Earls managed a shot, but Sullivan made the save.

With 3:02 to go in the frame, the Clippers struck again and made it 4-1, as Powers fought through the defense before firing the ball into the net, but Waynflete had a strong end to the quarter.

Twenty-five seconds later, Marblestone fought through the defense and scored unassisted.

Kelly won the ensuing draw and did it herself, scoring unassisted with 2:23 left, cutting the deficit to one.

The Flyers had three chances to tie it in the waning moments, but Kelly missed wide, Marblestone did the same, then just before the horn, Sullivan denied a Marblestone shot on the run.

After nearly four scoreless minutes to start the second period, Yarmouth got some breathing room, as Zinman scored on a free position, but the Clippers went down a player and Waynflete drew even, as Birknes finished a free position with 6:53 on the clock and 17 seconds later, off a draw win, Kelly scored unassisted to make it 5-5.

Powers then won the ensuing draw, ending Kelly’s streak of nine consecutive victories in the circle.

The Flyers got the ball back and had chances to go ahead, but Sullivan denied Marblestone after a long run, then she robbed Marblestone point blank.

At the other end, Boone put Yarmouth ahead to stay, as she showed her blazing speed and determination and went coast-to-coast before finishing unassisted with 3:27 on the clock.

A mere 47 seconds later, Powers fought through traffic then fired a shot that beat Clark just inside the far post.

After Sullivan saved a Kelly free position shot, the Clippers took a 7-5 advantage to the break.

In the first half, ground balls and turnovers were even and Waynflete had a big edge in draw controls (11-3) and shots, but Sullivan’s ability to come up big preserved the lead.

Sullivan, who missed her junior season due to a concussion, has been a critical part of Yarmouth’s success this spring.

“I definitely missed it last year, but my health came first,” said Sullivan, who won a state title as goalie for the girls’ soccer team back in the fall. “I’m glad I took that time and was able to recover correctly and now I’m back full force.”

“It’s great to have Regan back this year,” said Boone. “We have her in soccer and she just brings our energy up so much. She always yells and tells us where the ball is.”

“Regan came up with some key saves today,” Holt added. “Her senior leadership back there is really important. She brings a sense of confidence to the team which is just incredible. You don’t realize it until you get into games and you see how important she is.”

The third quarter saw Waynflete try to make a move, but the Clippers refuse to buckle.

After Clark saved a free position shot from Powers, Powers set up senior Neena Panozzo for a goal in transition with 9:42 left.

Clark saved a Boone shot, but with 7:04 to go, Zinman managed to finish despite twisting and falling to the ground.

Connors took her final timeout and the Flyers responded, as Marblestone set up Birknes for a goal with 6:22 on the clock, ending a 12 minute, 14 second scoring drought.

With 4:50 to go, Kelly scooped up a ground ball, then fired a shot into the net for an unassisted goal to cut the deficit to two, but Yarmouth never let Waynflete get a look at creeping closer.

After junior Maddie Jones hit the post, Keaney set up Boone for a goal with 3:33 left.

After Sullivan robbed Marblestone again, Kelly converted a free position with 1:38 remaining, but the Clippers closed the frame on a two-goal burst to gain some breathing room.

First, after Boone missed wide on a free position, she set up Hunt for a goal with 29.9 seconds showing.

Then, with just 8.3 seconds left, Panozzo found Keaney in front for a goal to make it 12-8 heading to the final stanza.

Where Yarmouth put it away.

Sullivan began the fourth period by denying Marblestone.

Then, with 11:08 remaining, Boone set up Powers for a five-goal lead.

After Kelly missed wide with a free position shot, junior Bryn Cain set up Boone for a goal with 9:30 to go.

Kelly got a goal back with 5:20 remaining, from Marblestone, but 49 seconds later, Boone countered with a free position.

“Last game, I missed a few (free position shots), so I used that energy to get them in today,” said Boone.

With 4:13 on the clock, Kelly scored unassisted for Waynflete’s final goal.

Boone scored her final goal, on a free position, with 2:57 left and then, with 1:45 remaining, Jones set up Zinman and Yarmouth closed out a 17-10 victory.

“We like to keep it interesting for some reason, but when it gets really close, our energy really gets up and we pull away at the end,” said Boone.

“It was just a fun game,” Holt said. “I love games like this. The girls came together and worked hard.”

Boone had a career-high seven goals and assisted on two others.

“Brooke was just unstoppable today,” said Holt. “She’s at a point in her career right now that’s phenomenal. She’s one of our go-to players on offense, along with Neena, Aine, Lauren.”

Powers and Zinman added three goals apiece, while Keaney had two and Hunt and Panozzo finished with one each.

Cain, Jones, Keaney, Panozzo and Powers also had one assist.

Sullivan was stellar with 13 saves, most coming when the game was hanging in the balance.

“We came out a little slower on defense than we wanted to, but as the game went on, we shut them down,” Sullivan said. “My defense does a great job cutting down the angle and the attacker gives me all the information I need to make the save.”

The Clippers had a 26-24 edge on ground balls (Powers led the way with five and Zinman scooped up four) and overcame 20 turnovers.

Waynflete also had a seven-goal scorer in Kelly, who was also dominant on draws, winning 19 of 30 opportunities, and had a game-high seven ground balls.

Birknes added two goals and Marblestone had one, to go with a pair of assists.

Clark made five saves.

The Flyers had a 31-27 edge in shots (23-22 on cage), but turned the ball over 20 times.

“I’m really proud,” said Connors. “There’s so much we can take from this. Yarmouth is amazing. I felt like we were in it, but they pulled away because they’re a great team. It slipped away from us, but we’ll learn from this. We hung tough and did a lot of great things. Tilsley was amazing on the draw. We got a lot of experience working on things and we subbed a lot of people in. We’re still working on defense. They got three goals in a row a few times, but I feel great about where we are.”

Chasing Heal Points

Waynflete (ranked first in the Class C Heal Points standings at press time) has some key home tests upcoming, versus Class B York Thursday and against reigning Class C champion Freeport (now playing in Class B) next Tuesday. The Flyers then close the season with a home game versus Traip Academy and a trip to Lake Region.

“We have big games coming and that’s good for us,” said Connors. “We need that. We have older and younger players and we’re bringing them together. We want to be No. 1. We want to be home for the playoffs. I think we’re up for the challenge.”

Yarmouth, which is third behind Kennebunk and Falmouth in Class A, goes to Thornton Academy Friday, then welcomes Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week. After going to Brunswick, the Clippers close at home versus Greely.

“We just have to keep the intensity up,” said Sullivan. “We’re working hard in practice. We just need to work on applying pressure, getting ground balls and getting the ball in the back of the net.”

“We want to win it badly this year because we’ve played together for so long and we’re such good friends,” Boone said. “We have the skill. We just need to get a little more gritty and that’s coming.”

“We still have work to do, but the good thing is the girls are figuring it out and this is where we should be,” Holt added. “I feel like we’re getting stronger and we’re getting confidence in areas we’ve needed to work on. We’re going to close out with a couple more competitive games. That’s good for us. I think the girls know what it takes to win and that’s exciting.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

Recent Waynflete-Yarmouth results

2023
@ Yarmouth 11 Waynflete 5

2022
Yarmouth 18 @ Waynflete 6

2021
Yarmouth 8 @ Waynflete 5

2019
@ Yarmouth 9 Waynflete 4

2018
Yarmouth 13 @ Waynflete 6

2017
@ Yarmouth 12 Waynflete 4

2016
@ Yarmouth 4 Waynflete 3 

2015
Yarmouth 8 @ Waynflete 6 

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

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

Copy the Story Link