PORTLAND—Waynflete’s girls’ lacrosse team has been producing dazzling performances in state final games for the better part of three decades, but no Flyer sparkled as brightly as senior Tilsley Kelly did on the Fitzpatrick Stadium turf Saturday afternoon.

Kelly capped a transcendent career in a Waynflete uniform by filling up the stat sheet with goals, assists and draw controls as the second-ranked Flyers pulled away from the fourth-seeded Wells Warriors in the Class C state game.

Waynflete struggled early to possess the ball, but took a 2-1 lead after one quarter on goals from Kelly and fellow senior Chloe Marblestone.

Junior Lydia Birknes and Kelly then put on a give-and-take show in the second period, as each player scored three times and had a pair of assists as the Flyers opened up an 8-2 advantage.

Kelly, who won all 12 draws in the first half, scored again in the third quarter, then added three more goals in the fourth to end all doubt and Waynflete prevailed, 14-7.

Kelly finished with eight goals, three assists and 17 wins in 24 draw opportunities to lead the Flyers to their second Class C championship, their 12th in the Maine Principals’ Association-sanctioned era and their 14th overall, as they finished 13-4 and in the process, ended Wells’ fine season at 12-5.

“It’s amazing,” said Kelly. “Playing four years and having the bookend championships is wonderful. It feels full circle. We’ve worked so hard for this for so long. What got us here is intensity.”

Reclaiming the title

In the early years of the sport, Waynflete captured the title almost annually (see sidebar) and in the first 16 years after girls’ lacrosse was sanctioned by the Maine Principals’ Association, the Flyers brought home the big trophy on 10 occasions. After an eight-year drought, Waynflete returned to the pinnacle in 2021. After an agonizing double-overtime loss to eventual state finalist NYA in last year’s quarterfinals, the Flyers entered this season as the favorite and haven’t disappointed (see sidebar for links to prior stories).

Waynflete went 10-4 in the regular season, losing only to Class A champion Yarmouth, Class A playoff team Gorham and Class B finalists Freeport and Greely.

The Flyers then dominated No. 7 NYA (18-5) in the quarterfinals and No. 6 Traip Academy (18-6) in the semifinals, in a game played on a neutral field at Lewiston High School, to advance.

Wells made its first state game appearance in 2022, as a late rally fell just short against NYA. Last year, the Warriors went 11-5, losing to eventual champion Freeport in the semifinals.

This spring, Wells won its first five games en route to another 10-4 record. The Warriors advanced with victories over No. 5 Erskine Academy (14-2) in the quarterfinals and top-ranked Maranacook/Winthrop (7-5) in the semifinals, a game played in Lewiston.

On May 10, the host Flyers beat Wells, 9-5, as Kelly scored five times and Birknes added three goals.

Saturday, on a sunny, 71 degree afternoon, after Wells junior Elana Vennard sang a rousing rendition of the national anthem, Waynflete gradually pulled away to add a trophy to the school’s over-stuffed case.

The Flyers couldn’t get a settled possession for much of the first period and with 7:36 to go, the Warriors got out in transition and sophomore Caitlin Rooney set up senior Cali Leighton for the lead.

But that proved to be Wells’ highwater mark.

After Marblestone hit the post, she had a rebound saved by Warriors senior goalie Kayla Bolton, then Bolton robbed Kelly.

After an apparent Birknes goal was waved off for a crease violation, Kelly got Waynflete on the board with 3:45 remaining, converting a free position shot.

The Flyers then went in front for good with 29.7 seconds showing, as Kelly threaded a pretty pass to Marblestone, who tickled the twine.

Waynflete turned the ball over eight times in the frame, but would be much more efficient in the second period as it opened up a commanding advantage.

With 10:42 on the first half clock, Birknes scored for the first time, as Kelly found her in the middle of the defense and despite being in traffic, Birknes shot and scored.

With 6:53 to go, Rooney pulled Wells within one, taking a pass from junior Ellie Moore, then shooting past freshman goalie Mya Clark.

The Flyers quickly responded and gained separation.

A mere 35 seconds later, senior Morgan Earls set up Birknes for a goal.

With 5:39 left, Birknes scored for the third time in five minutes, this time from Kelly, making it 5-2 and forcing Warriors’ first-year coach Morgan Pike to call timeout.

But it didn’t stem the tide.

With 4:57 to go before halftime, Kelly scooped up a loose ball and fired it home.

A minute later, Birknes found Kelly in traffic and Kelly finished.

“I think there were just nerves at the start,” Kelly said. “Deep down, we knew we’d shake them off and play our game. Most of our goals were assisted. The connections were wonderful. My teammates gave me beautiful passes. There were so many open spaces. Every single goal was a team effort.”

“We were playing not to lose and we had to play to win the whole time,” added longtime Waynflete coach Cathie Connors. “For some of them, it was their first time here.”

With 3:18 on the clock, Birknes assisted on another Kelly goal and after Moore hit the crossbar, Waynflete took an 8-2 lead to the break.

Kelly helped the Flyers open it up by winning all 12 draws she was involved in.

“My teammates worked hard to get the ball,” Kelly said. “There was never a point where I thought they wouldn’t fight for it.”

“We had to get the draws and the ground balls,” said Connors. “If you don’t have possession, it’s super-hard.”

“(Possession) was a huge part of the game,” Pike said. “When we played last time, they dominated draws too. We were trying to switch it up, but she’s really good at the draw and at self-drawing, but they have a very elite draw team. Kudos to them. They did a great job.”

Leighton ended Kelly’s streak by winning the draw to start the second half, but Wells couldn’t manage a shot.

Marblestone then extended the lead with 9:03 on the clock, finishing a pass from junior Fallon Culley.

Junior Jess Palmer got a goal back for the Warriors with 7:38 to go, but after a Wells yellow card, junior Skylar Harris scored on a free position with 4:57 left and Kelly won the ensuing draw, raced in, made a nice move, then put the ball in the net to make it 11-3.

Late in the frame, the Warriors got an unassisted goal from Rooney, then, as time wound down, Palmer, after a long run, shot past Clark just as the horn sounded to make it a six-goal game.

But there would be no miracle rally.

With exactly 10 minutes on the clock, Kelly’s free position shot stemmed the tide.

Rooney countered, from freshman Payton Maxon with 9:24 to play, but Kelly scored unassisted with 8:18 to play, then she scored the final goal of her high school career, on a free position after a nice move, with 4:13 on the clock.

Wells fought hard to the final horn and with 42.4 seconds showing, Maxon converted a free position, but it was far too little, too late and Waynflete was able to celebrate its 14-7 victory.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Birknes. “This whole playoff two weeks, we’ve been so dynamic. It feels really good. We wanted it so badly with our fight. We knew the connections would come and they did.”

“This feels really great,” Connors said. “I didn’t think for a minute that we had it. Wells is a good team. I knew they’d come out strong. They’re well-coached.

“The girls had unbelievable attitudes the whole way through. Everybody wanted it for each other. They got better and better and this is what they worked toward. We had a couple of dips and had to figure out who we were and what our strengths were. We built up toward this moment.”

Kelly bowed out with perhaps her finest performance, in a season and career full of them. Kelly had eight goals, assisted on three others, was sensational in the draw circle, winning 17 of 24 chances, and she scooped up three ground balls for good measure.

“Tilsley’s among the best players I’ve had, especially on the draw,” Connors said. “I’m really proud of her. She’s so humble.”

Birknes added three goals and two assists. She also had four interceptions at the defensive end and collected three ground balls.

“I love defense,” said Birknes. “Our defense works so well together. I love reading a ball and getting to it.”

“Lydia’s a junior captain and you have to fight hard to be a junior captain,” Kelly said. “I’m happy-happy and she’s intense and she’s inspired all of us.”

“Lydia’s been playing well at both ends,” added Connors. “She plays the same in practice as in games.”

Birknes and Kelly wound up combining for 11 goals and five assists.

“We’re such good friends on and off the field,” said Birknes, of she and Kelly. “We bring so much energy together.”

Marblestone added two goals and Harris had one. Culley and Earls finished with one assist apiece.

Clark stopped four shots.

The Flyers had a 22-14 advantage on ground balls (Marblestone led the way with five), out-shot the Warriors, 29-19 (20-11 on cage) and overcame 18 turnovers.

Wells was led by Rooney, who had three goals and one assist. Palmer finished with two goals and Leighton and Maxon had one apeice.

Leighton and Maxon also had one assist, as did Moore.

Bolton stopped six shots.

Rooney collected five ground balls.

The Warriors committed 21 turnovers and just couldn’t get enough possession when it mattered to earn a first championship.

“They were super-excited to come here and they wanted to win,” said Pike, of her players. “They fought right to the end. They’re great athletes with great will to persevere. I’m really proud. It’s my first year coaching. I learned a lot this year and it was such a great group of girls. They made so much progress. They left everything on the field today. We don’t give up. The girls have such big hearts.”

Wells graduates Bolton and Leighton, but everyone else returns and after getting to states twice in three years only to fall just short, perhaps 2025 will be the year the Warriors break through.

“We’re losing two, so we’ll have a strong team again,” said Pike. “Our juniors are great leaders. I hope we can get back here next year.”

On to 2025

Waynflete has to part with an abundance of seniors, a group led by Kelly.

The Flyers return veterans like Birknes, Clark, Culley, Harris and junior defensive standout Leah Kramer.

Waynflete hasn’t gone back-to-back as state champions since 2012-13.

The 2025 Flyers hope to make that happen.

“I think we can make another run,” Birknes said. ‘The juniors have worked so hard. We have a lot of younger players coming up who love the sport.”

“Our seniors will be tough to replace, on and off the field, but we have five freshmen and they’re ready to go,” said Connors. “It would be nice to win again.”

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