WATERBORO — When third-seeded Kennebunk and second-seeded Massabesic meet at 7:30 tonight with a regional title on the line, it should be just the latest classic encounter in one of the hottest rivalries in Maine high school girls lacrosse.
The Rams and Mustangs have met seven times since Kennebunk moved up to Class A in 2008, and six of those games have been decided by three goals or less.
The Rams got the better of the first five matchups, including a 7-4 victory in the 2010 playoffs, before the Mustangs finally came out on top 8-7 in overtime last season.
Kennebunk turned the tide back this year on May 14 in another 8-7 overtime game, with Rose Bryant scoring her fifth for the only goal in extra time to lift the Rams to victory.
That experience should come in handy for what should be a hostile playoff environment Wednesday, Kennebunk coach Annie Barker said.
“They can take that with them. That was the first time they all came together as a team to get that W,” Barker said. “We played at Massabesic so we know what it’s like and we’re going to be going on to that field not being intimidated by all of things surrounding them.”
The win came at an otherwise tough period for Kennebunk (9-5), which lost four of its last six games in the regular season.
But something clicked when the playoffs arrived, with the Rams first beating Thornton Academy 9-6 in the quarterfinals before a 9-7 semifinal victory over top-seeded, three-time defending state champions Scarborough in a remarkably self-assured performance for a team relying heavily on underclassmen.
“I think we’re shoulders above where we were in that first Massabesic game,” Barker said. “Our freshmen now have their heads completely composed. The first time we went there I think they were scared to death. I tried to mentally prepare them for what they were going to see then, but now they know and they’ve done it once before. Pretty much everyone is game speed now, and we didn’t have that then.”
That May 14 game was also a turning point for the Mustangs (11-3), who have reeled off six in a row since, including an impressive 7-5 victory over Marshwood in the regional semis Saturday.
All seven of those goals, six of them from senior Heather Everett, came on extended offensive possessions, something that coach Brooks Bowen hopes carries over.
“We’ve got a bunch of girls who like to run. It’s kind of our style, we like to push the ball up the field and look for fast breaks,” Bowen said. “But I think we’ve been improving over the last four or five games of when that disappears, to not force that shot and working our way in for a good shot.”
As always, getting on top early will be the aim for both squads, neither of who ever trailed in their semifinal wins.
“What we need to do is go up on them early and then do what we did against Scarborough,” Barker said. “It’s all going to be about possession of the ball again. That’s the kind of game I hope we can prepare them to play.”
Massabesic has a history of falling behind in the team’s matchups, including 4-0 in the game earlier this season, and spotting a Kennebunk team that excels at possessing the ball and has so far dominated the faceoff circle in the playoffs another lead like that isn’t in Bowen’s plans.
“If we can get out and handle the ball with some skill and work our way into it without falling behind by four or five goals, that’s going to be one of the keys for us,” Bowen said. “The last several times we’ve met we’ve been dragging ourselves out of a hole after just a few minutes.
“If we can get out even, then it’s going to come down to players making good decisions, not forcing shots, goalie play ”“ a full-field game for both sides.”
Still, while an initial advantage could help one of the squads set its desired tempo, if history is anything to go by there’s a good chance that when Wednesday’s game hits the stretch run, it will be with everything to play for.
“I think it would be foolish on anybody’s part to expect anything less than the traditional Kennebunk-Massabesic matchup,” Bowen said. “I think the fans are going to get their money’s worth.”
— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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