PORTLAND—There hasn’t been a roller coaster ride invented that’s wild enough to describe the twists and turns of emotions that Yarmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team experienced Saturday morning against defending champion York in the Class B state final at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

The Clippers went from holding a seemingly safe late lead to suddenly finding themselves behind by a goal with only 15 seconds to play, staring in the face of an epic and painful collapse.

Then the pendulum swung the other way, with a breathtaking tying goal just before the end of regulation, followed by another in overtime, scored by the team’s best player, to win a championship.

It all added up to the most dramatic victory in the long and storied history of one of the state’s elite programs and it still doesn’t seem real.

Was it?

Yarmouth, ranked third, had dropped consecutive meetings to the top-ranked Wildcats by emphatic margins, but after planning almost exclusively for this particular foe for weeks, the Clippers went toe-to-toe with the reigning champs, who were ever better this year than they were a year ago.

Senior Colter Olson, and you might as well get used to reading his name a lot, set the tone by setting up junior Matt Cain for an early goal to give Yarmouth confidence, but behind its unstoppable dynamic duo of juniors Evan Anastas and Quinn Walenta, York rattled off three straight goals.

This time, however, the Clippers didn’t dig too deep a hole, as Olson fed sophomore George Brown, then scored one of his own to make it 3-3 after one quarter.

The second period was dead even as well, as Yarmouth got goals from sophomore Colby Carnes, sophomore Ian Minnihan and Olson to go up three, only to see the Wildcats roar back with four straight goals of their own, as Walenta scored the final one to put his team back on top.

A late transition goal from sophomore Hakon Yeo (you haven’t heard the last of him either) with 36.9 seconds remaining, pulled Yarmouth even at the half, 7-7.

The Clippers then seemingly took control of the game when Olson, Cain and Yeo scored third period goals to push the lead back to three.

York ended a long scoring drought on a Walenta goal, but with 9:17 to play, Olson set up Carnes to make it 11-8, a lead which lasted until a little over four minutes remained.

When York dug deep into its reservoir of championship heart and embarked on a comeback that would have lived in legend, had it held up.

Anastas scored three straight unassisted goals, the final one coming with 1:40 on the clock to tie the score.

Then, after yet another faceoff win from sophomore Riley Butters, the Wildcats ran the clock down until Walenta scored unassisted with just 15.2 seconds remaining, seemingly giving York the hardware.

But Yarmouth sophomore faceoff specialist Noah Tippie managed to get possession and out of a timeout, Olson drew the defense, ran the clock down perilously, then fed Yeo for the tying goal with only 2.4 seconds left, forcing overtime.

In OT, the Wildcats won possession, then turned the ball over and everyone on hand knew who was going to take the final shot for the Clippers.

One minute into overtime, 49 minutes into a game for the ages, Olson took on nearly the entire York defense before firing the ball into the net and Yarmouth was Class B champion by virtue of a 13-12 victory that had to be seen to be believed.

Olson finished with four goals and seven assists, accounting for 11 of his team’s 13 goals, as the Clippers finally solved their recent nemesis, winning their first title in three years and the seventh in the program’s illustrious history, finishing with a record of 14-3 and ending York’s title reign and its terrific season at 15-2.

“I had nightmares when we were down one, but I kept my composure and trusted my teammates, said Olson, who will play next year at Rutgers University. “I’m on cloud nine.”

Instant classic

Yarmouth’s quest for yet another trip to the state final a year ago was dashed by York in the semifinals, as the Wildcats held the high-powered Clippers in check in a 9-3 defeat.

Since then, Yarmouth has eyed its opportunity to face York in the playoffs again and this season, the Clippers have held their own against everyone (see sidebar for previous stories).

Yarmouth scored 216 goals during the regular season, reaching double figures in 11 of 14 outings, as it lost only to Class A champion Falmouth, runner-up Cape Elizabeth (by a single goal) and York. A 9-8 win at the Capers gave the Clippers plenty of confidence entering the playoffs and after dominating No. 11 Gray-New Gloucester/Poland (16-4) in the state quarterfinals, Yarmouth dispatched No. 2 Messalonskee (16-6) in Tuesday’s semifinals, played on a neutral field in Gardiner.

York, meanwhile, has posted as impressive a resume as anyone this season, winning 13 of 14 regular season contests, with its lone loss coming by a goal at Cape Elizabeth. The Wildcats held their opponents to fewer than five goals per game and rolled over the opposition in the playoffs, dispatching No. 9 Greely (12-1) in the quarterfinals and No. 5 Brunswick (18-3) in the semifinals.

York went to Yarmouth May 15 and enjoyed a 14-7 victory in the teams’ lone regular season meeting.

The Clippers had won two of three prior playoff meetings, prevailing 17-10 in the 2018 Class B quarterfinals and again in the 2022 semifinals (11-9) before the Wildcats’ victory a year ago.

York had played in just one prior state game and it was an unforgettable memory, last year’s 12-10 win over Maranacook.

Yarmouth, conversely, had been in 15 prior state finals, dating to 1996, emerging victorious on six occasions (see sidebar).

Saturday, on a beautiful, sunny and warm morning (67 degrees and rising at opening faceoff), in front of a large and vocal crowd, the Clippers ran the gamut from hope to despair to relief to exhilaration and some how, some way managed to return to the pinnacle.

The Wildcats mustered the game’s first shot, but Yarmouth sophomore goalie Will Redfield denied senior Nick Hoy.

With 9:59 to go in the opening stanza, the Clippers’ first shot resulted in the game’s first goal, as Olson found Cain, whose shot eluded York senior goalie Evan Giacobba.

That awakened the Wildcats, who showed their explosiveness by scoring three goals in two-and-a-half minutes.

With 7:58 left in the first quarter, Walenta found Anastas up top, who ripped a rocket past Redfield to tie the score.

A mere 59 seconds later, Anastas struck again, this time doing it himself.

Cain then had a chance to tie the score, but Giacobba made the save and at the other end, with 5:28 on the clock, Walenta rolled the crease and beat a defender, not for the last time, before sending the ball into the net to make it 3-1.

Yarmouth was at an early crossroads but responded beautifully.

With 4:50 remaining, Olson set up Brown for his first goal to stem the tide.

Giacobba then denied Olson and he threw a long clearing pass to Anastas that looked as if it would lead to a goal, but Anastas shot just wide.

After Giacobba denied Olson again, the Clippers got the ball back and coach Jon Miller called timeout.

Yarmouth responded, as with a minute to play in the frame, Olson unleashed a shot from 25-yards out and it got past Giacobba and into the net to make it 3-3, a score that would hold up into the second period thanks to Redfield robbing Walenta with just seconds left.

In the second quarter, Yarmouth continued to surge.

Just 41 seconds in, Olson fed Carnes for a goal and the lead.

With 9:50 to play in the half, Minnihan was set up by Brown for another goal.

Then, after Redfield robbed Douris, Olson got in the scoring fun, taking a pass from Brown and tickling the twine with 8:55 left, pushing the lead to 6-3.

York coach Bill McNamara then called timeout and his team got right back in the contest.

With 7:31 on the clock, Walenta rolled the crease again before finishing, snapping the Clippers’ 5-0 run.

After Yeo hit the post at one end, senior Haydn Forbes cut the deficit to one at the midway point of the quarter, spinning to elude a defender, then beating Redfield.

With 5:01 to go, Anastas set up senior Luke Douris for the tying goal.

The Wildcats then went back in front, as Walenta again scored unassisted with 3:58 remaining.

Again, Yarmouth fought back and after Brown missed wide and Minnihan had a shot saved by Giacobba, the Clippers got out in transition after Redfield denied Hoy and Olson found Yeo in front, who buried his shot to make the score 7-7 after a very entertaining first half.

And the best was yet to come.

Redfield preserved the tie when the third period began, denying Hoy and Forbes, while Anastas shot wide.

With 6:39 left in the quarter, Yarmouth went man-up and it took all of seven seconds to strike, as Carnes got the ball to Olson, who ripped a shot into the net.

With 5:58 to go, Cain added an unassisted goal and after Giacobba denied Olson, Olson got the ball back and threw a beautiful pass to Yeo on the doorstep, which Yeo finished to make it 10-7.

Late in the frame, Redfield denied Hoy and Forbes and senior Laird Masterson missed wide after a rush, allowing the Clippers to take a three-goal lead to the final stanza.

Or what everyone thought would be the final stanza.

York, which showed little offensive life in the third period, started the fourth in style, as Walenta scored unassisted 53 seconds in, snapping a 16:51 scoring drought.

Yarmouth would answer with 9:17 to go, however, as Olson fed Carnes for a goal.

After Olson had a shot saved, the Clippers had a chance to put it away when they went man-up, but Carnes missed wide and Giacobba robbed Yeo.

After killing the penalty, the Wildcats set about embarking on a rally and they would do.

In headspinning fashion.

With 4:15 left, Anastas bounced off a hapless Yarmouth defender, then fired the ball into the net to cut the deficit to two and change momentum.

Butters won the ensuing faceoff and out of a timeout, Anastas scored unassisted again with 3:24 to play, cutting the deficit to just one.

“We were having trouble possessing the ball, so I called some timeouts just so we could possess it,” said McNamara. “The guys did a good job on offense.”

Butters won possession again and Redfield momentarily protected the lead by saving two shots from Douris, but after Douris kept possession with a ground ball, Anastas got it back and with 1:40 left in regulation, he bulled through the defense and finished and the Clippers’ three-goal lead had disappeared.

It would get worse for Yarmouth, as Butters won the faceoff and York ran the clock down to about 20 seconds before Walenta again took off around the crease, beat a defender, then fired the ball into the net for a 12-11 lead with just 15.2 seconds showing, seemingly capping a seismic rally.

“We went at 20 seconds,” said McNamara. “That’s how we practice it. (Quinn) beat his guy so cleanly that he scored with 15 seconds left.”

“We were up three and when York got that first goal to get it to two, the team felt like it was losing even though we were still winning,” Miller said. “I tried to keep the team positive, but York, credit to them, came back and got the lead.”

Yarmouth’s only hope of staying alive was to win the faceoff and after eight straight defeats, Tippie won possession and Miller called timeout.

“A big shoutout to Noah Tippie,” Olson said. “We lost a couple games because we couldn’t get the ball. He’s worked so hard. Unbelievable. I knew if we could get the ball we’d have a chance at it. He won the one that mattered. Big time players step up in big-time moments and that was Noah Tippie right there.”

Out of the timeout, Olson kept the ball and moved to his right with time slipping away. Then, at the last moment, he fired a pass to Yeo waiting at the far post and Yeo one-timed it past Giacobba and in with just 2.4 seconds on the clock.

Tying the score.

“Colter saw me, 2.4 seconds left,” Yeo said. “I just caught and shot and tried not to fall in the crease. It was beautiful.”

“I thought we still had time,” Olson said. “I wanted to get the slide further away so I could beat my defender and go. I saw six seconds and I knew exactly where to go. I drew my man, I gave it to my right-hand man Hakon Yeo. He had 50 goals this season. He started varsity the first time this year. He’s a stud. It was like backyard lacrosse. I threw a terrible pass and he hockey-shotted it into the net.”

“York immediately went into their zone to kill clock because it’s hard to run through a zone,” Miller added. “We told Colter to do his thing and keep his head up. Hakon had a tough shot and made it. Not much coaching. It was on the players and they executed.”

After a short break, the game went to sudden victory overtime and it didn’t take long to determine a winner.

And champion.

Butters won the faceoff, as senior Jim Neal scooped up the ground ball, and McNamara called timeout, hoping to draw up the winning play.

Instead, after Forbes picked up a ground ball to keep possession, somehow York went offsides and the ball went over to Yarmouth, as Miller called timeout.

One didn’t need to be a lifelong student of the game to understand what the Clippers’ strategy was going to be.

In Colter We Trust.

Olson picked up the ball as the whistle blew and slowly moved right to left, as the defense converged, but Olson found a sliver of room and from 20 yards out, with defensemen all around him, his blast got through and Giacobba couldn’t stop it as it found the net.

“I was not passing the ball,” Olson said. “Nope, not going to happen. They were in a zone, so I knew if I kept going, they’d mess up a pass-off. I had my hands free and I was going to put it in the net. I had some assists today, but that last one was going to be my shot.

“I expected (Colter) to do what he did and he scored,” said Yeo.

“If we got the ball on the our stick and went on offense, we were confident we’d score,” Miller added. “We had three minutes, so I wanted us to work the ball around, but Colter picked it up and said, ‘I’m winning this game’ and that’s why I think he’s the best player in the state. He’s unbelievable. He’ll succeed next year at Rutgers. It couldn’t have ended any better for him or the team.”

“We knew Colter could shoot or pass,” said McNamara. “He actually shot through a double team, around a screen, so you have to give it to him. He made a good play.”

At 11:43 a.m., the celebration of the Clippers’ 13-12 victory began.

“The ball went in and I wasn’t sure if it was sudden death,” Olson said. “I blacked out. My helmet went flying. I almost started crying. It’s just a fairy tale ending. I knew the game wasn’t over until it’s over. Even when we were tied with momentum. It’s hard to beat a team like us twice.”

“I was so excited,” Yeo said. “My eyes sparkled. I ran and went and celebrated. Going into overtime, after that (tying) goal, in my opinion, I knew we could win it. I don’t think people saw us as a team that would win this year. York was favored, but nobody should count us out and we proved that today. To say the least, it’s insane. Last year we got kicked out of the playoffs by these guys, so it feels so good to beat them. We knew we could coming into it. We thought we had a bad game when we played them last. We kept our heads up and stayed confident.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it’s the most dramatic win we’ve ever had,” added Miller, who was on the wrong end of an overtime state final as a player when Yarmouth lost to Cape Elizabeth in 2003. “It’s amazing. When it’s easy, it’s less rewarding. When you win a crazy one like this, it’s certainly rewarding and something you’ll never forget. It’s huge for us. We hadn’t won it in a few years and York’s a really good team. To beat a great team like that in the final stage is very big. It will go down in history for sure.”

Olson didn’t just stuff the stat sheet with four goals (including perhaps the biggest in program history), he also had a whopping seven assists, giving him totals of 82 and 63 for the season (145 points) and 177 goals and 151 assists (328 points) for his illustrious, nonpareil career.

“The Yarmouth uniform means everything to me,” Olson said. “I was lucky enough to get (the school’s Male) Athlete of the Year, but the one I really care about is ‘Clipper Pride.’ I’m the most prideful person. It means so much to me. I grew up here. I love this group so much. They’re my boys. Every single one of them from the coaching staff to Ciaran Powers, the guy who brought water.”

Yeo was stellar as well, scoring three goals, none bigger than the one that saved the season late in regulation.

“I just tried to do my job, score goals, make assists and win the game and we did,” said Yeo. “I never lost hope.”

Cain and Carnes both scored twice, while Brown and Minnehan each found the net once.

After mustering just 10 goals combined in the past two games against York, the Clippers produced 13 when it mattered most.

“Shout out to our coaches,” Olson said. “Since we lost to York the first time, all we’ve been doing is preparing for them. Our defense prepared us so well. It was a team effort.  We knew what would happen.”

“We were more prepared for York this year than we ever have been against their unique zone defense,” Miller said. “We don’t play it, but we did a lot of zone in practice to prepare the offense. Our defense deserves credit.”

Brown, Carnes and Yeo had one assist apiece.

Redfield made 13 huge saves.

Yarmouth had a 15-12 edge in ground balls (Olson, naturally, led the way with five), had a slim 33-32 edge in shots and somehow only turned the ball over nine times in 49 minutes of high-intensity action.

York got five goals and one assist apiece from Anastas and Walenta, who were both superb. Douris and Forbes had one goal apiece.

Giacobba made nine saves.

Neal had a team-high three ground balls.

The Wildcats won 18 of 29 faceoffs, had a 25-22 edge in shots on cage and turned the ball over 15 times.

“It was a wild game,” McNamara said. “It was a good one. The team battled all over the field. They made a couple more plays than us. I’m proud of the guys. It was a great year. They worked hard and loved being together. I’m going to miss this group. Hopefully we’ll get back here.”

Looking ahead

The loss of Olson will be enormous, but in addition to his abundance of goals and assists, he brought along his younger teammates over the course of the season and that’s bound to pay big dividends in 2025.

“We graduate one starter, but I think we’ll be fine,” Olson said.

“With Colter gone, I think we’ll adapt,” said Yeo. “If we stay healthy and stay together, I think we’ll be good again next year.”

“Colter was really our only contributing senior,” Miller added. “We have four or five juniors and the rest of the team is sophomores.

“I think we have a bright future.”

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