YARMOUTH—Great teams find a way to win games when their performance is anything but optimal.

Wednesday afternoon at Lewis Field, the Freeport Falcons girls’ lacrosse squad got ambushed by the host North Yarmouth Academy Panthers in the teams’ mutual regular season finale, but despite playing from behind most of the way, the Falcons managed to save their best for last to go into the playoffs on a high note.

NYA, which lost by 10 goals at Freeport a month ago, conceded the first goal, then got scores from senior Lauryn Casey, sophomore Ava Wilkinson and junior Gwen Curran for a surprising 3-1 advantage after one quarter.

Junior stalwarts Lana DiRusso and Mia Levesque scored second period goals to pull the Falcons within one, 4-3, at the half, then DiRusso tied the score midway the third quarter.

But the Panthers reasserted control, as Wilkinson scored on a rebound and with 3:20 to go in the frame, junior Lyla Casey’s free position goal made it 6-4.

But NYA wouldn’t score again.

The Panthers were still up by two with just over 7 minutes remaining when Freeport flipped the switch, scoring three goals in just over two minutes to turn momentum.

After sophomore Reed Proscia cut the deficit to one, junior Emma White tied the score with with 5:33 to play.

Then, with 4:38 on the clock, Levesque converted a free position and the Falcons finally had the lead for good.

Junior goalie Hailly Curtis did the rest, making several key saves down the stretch, including one on a shot from Wilkinson just before the horn, and Freeport held on for dear life for a 7-6 victory.

DiRusso scored three times, Levesque added two goals and Curtis stopped 13 shots as the Falcons closed the regular season on a 12-game surge, finished 13-1 and in the process, dropped valiant NYA to 6-8.

“(The coaches) knew history and not many of these girls do, so we knew it wasn’t going to be a 10-goal game (like last time),” said Freeport coach Marcia Wood. “Thankfully, we pulled it out at the end. I’m glad we got some good competition.”

Down to the wire

Last June 19, Freeport held off NYA, 7-5, to win a state title for the first time.

That crown came in Class C and this spring, the Falcons moved up to Class B where they have emerged as arguably the finest team there as well, stumbling just once, in overtime, in 13 previous outings.

Freeport started with an 8-6 victory at Scarborough, fell at home in an OT thriller to two-time reigning Class B champion Greely (8-7), then defeated host Massabesic (11-8), visiting NYA (15-5) and York (12-5), host Wells (11-3), visiting Brunswick (14-4) and Traip Academy (14-2), host Cape Elizabeth (9-5) and Gray-New Gloucester (17-4), visiting Fryeburg Academy (15-0), host Waynflete (17-6) and most recently, visiting Lake Region (15-3).

NYA, meanwhile, opened with a 12-4 home loss to Cape Elizabeth, then defeated visiting St. Dom’s (13-1) and host Gray-New Gloucester/Poland (12-2). After losses to visiting Gorham (11-8) and at Freeport (15-5), NYA defeated host Morse, 8-5. The Panthers then fell at home to Waynflete (14-5) before stringing together wins over visiting Gardiner (14-2) and Lake Region (12-3) and host Traip Academy (11-6). NYA then dropped its last three: at Greely (13-3), Wells (9-6) and York (10-8).

In the teams’ first meeting April 27, the Falcons dominated at home behind six goals from DiRusso.

Wednesday, on a beautiful 70-degree afternoon, after NYA’s lone senior, Lauryn Casey, was honored in a pregame ceremony, Freeport expected to roll to victory again, but this time, the Panthers rose to the occasion and made the Falcons scratch and claw for 48 minutes to eke out a memorable win.

Freeport started fast, as after DiRusso missed high on a free position shot, she got the ball from Proscia and fired it past Panthers’ junior goalie Salin Bachor for a 1-0 lead with 10:16 left in the opening stanza.

NYA quickly answered, as after a turnover, Lauryn Casey raced in and scored unassisted with 8:23 on the clock.

A mere 55 seconds later, on a rush, junior Sadie Swenson set up Wilkinson for a goal and the lead.

Then, with 3:44 to go in the first quarter, in transition, Wilkinson passed to Curran for a goal to make it 3-1, forcing Wood to call timeout.

The Falcons came out of the break and turned up their attack, but they would be stymied, as Levesque had a free position shot saved by Bachor, Bachor robbed Levesque on the doorstep, then senior Kiley Webber sent a free position high.

Freeport eventually cut into the deficit, as Levesque found DiRusso for a goal with 8:31 remaining in the half, snapping an uncharacteristic 13 minute, 45 second scoring drought.

After Lyla Casey missed wide and Curran had a shot saved by Curtis, the Panthers went in front by two goals again, as Swenson found Curran with 7:07 to go.

After Levesque sent a free position shot wide, Proscia intercepted a pass and raced in for a great look, but missed wide and Bachor stopped a Levesque shot on a rush.

Finally, with 2:28 on the clock, Levesque scored unassisted and after Bachor denied Webber, NYA took a 4-3 advantage to halftime.

First half statistics were nearly even and the game would remain taut until the final horn.

The second half began with the Panthers hoping to extend their lead, but Lauryn Casey was denied off the draw, then Curtis stopped a pair of shots from Wilkinson.

At the other end, Bachor stopped shots from senior Ava Stone and Klein, while Levesque and Proscia were off target.

With 6:26 left in the third quarter, in transition, Klein found DiRusso to tie the score, forcing NYA coach Molly Moss-Stokes to call timeout.

It helped, as the Panthers rediscovered their offense.

After Curtis stopped a Lyla Casey free position, Wilkinson pounced on the rebound and sent it home with 5:10 on the clock, ending an 18:57 drought.

After Bachor kicked away a DiRusso shot to preserve the lead, Lyla Casey successfully converted a free position with 3:20 remaining, making it 6-4.

Bachor saved a Levesque free position late and NYA was up two going to the fourth period.

But the Panthers couldn’t finish it off.

NYA was able to milk several minutes off the clock to start the final stanza, but couldn’t score, as Wilkinson missed wide.

After getting the ball back, Freeport pulled within one, as White found Proscia alone in front for a goal with 7:01 to play.

Bachor momentarily held the Falcons at bay, saving a shot from Levesque, but Levesque got the ball back and with 5:33 to go, she fed White for the goal which tied the score.

Levesque then got an opportunity to put Freeport in front when she was awarded a free position.

After several unsuccessful free position shots, Levesque this time raced in and fired the ball past Bachor for a 7-6 lead, the Falcons’ first since the score was 1-0, with just 4:38 remaining.

“Faking out the goalie was crucial,” Levesque said. “I had to fake out the goalie to get the ball in the back of the net. My first few free positions, I tried to rip a power shot from out wide. That time, I switched it up and ran it in.”

“Mia knew she couldn’t shoot unless she threw in a fake,” Wood said. “She changed it up. She doesn’t slow down and just goes and it creates so many opportunities for other people and for herself.”

Out of a timeout, the Panthers nearly drew even, but Wilkinson was robbed by Curtis.

After the teams traded turnovers, NYA had a chance to tie it with 1:46 to go, as Lauryn Casey took a free position, but Curtis made the save.

Freeport gave the ball back and with 32 seconds left, Lyla Casey had a great look, but Curtis again made the save.

During an ensuing battle for a loose ball, a collision resulted and play was delayed for several minutes as DiRusso was tended to.

Play then resumed with 17 seconds to go and the Panthers would get one more great look at forcing overtime, but with a second on the clock, Wilkinson was robbed point blank by Curtis and the Falcons were able to exhale and celebrate their 7-6 victory.

“I was just reacting, watching the defense and watching the players,” Curtis said. “I just had to keep my eyes open. It was a huge sigh of relief when the final horn went off. I was panicking a little bit after the third quarter, but I knew we weren’t done.”

“I think our energy was low at the beginning,” Levesque said. “Things weren’t going our way, but once we got out of our heads, we found the energy to come back. We needed the competition going into playoffs. This will prepare us.”

“They outplayed us and outhustled us and wanted it more at first,” Wood added. “They got those quick goals. That caught us off-guard, then we had bounces go against us, but when the ball needs to go in the back of the net, I have girls who can do that.

“Going 13-1 is great after replacing most of the defense and the goalie. We’ve had to rely on other people and spread out the shooting and the goals. We had some close games. Having those were helpful.”

Curtis, who was the junior varsity team’s goalie in 2023 before replacing Piper Williams this spring, came up huge, making 13 critical saves.

“It’s honestly been more than what I expected this year,” said Curtis. “It’s been great.”

“Hailly controls our defense’s energy and brings us up,” Levesque said. “She’s a powerhouse. In the second half, she showed her true colors and helped us win.”

“This was Reilly’s best game,” Wood said.” She hadn’t been in many of these situations. She made huge, amazing saves at the end. She’s so stoic. Piper would have been screaming and bouncing up and down and Reilly was just there. She was ready for this.”

Offensively, the Falcons got three goals from DiRusso, two from Levesque and one apiece from Proscia and White.

Levesque also had two assists, while Klein, Proscia and White finished with one apiece.

Freeport had a 32-28 advantage in ground balls (Levesque collected five and senior Sophia Yilmaz and sophomore Elle Levesque came up with four apiece) and a 26-24 edge in shots. The Falcons overcame 17 turnovers.

NYA got two goals apiece from Curran and Wilkinson, while Lauryn Casey and Lyla Casey found the net once each.

Swenson had two assists and Wilkinson finished with one.

Bachor made nine saves.

Matusovich won 11 of 17 draws.

Lyla Casey had a team-high five ground balls.

The Panthers had a slim 19-16 edge in shots on cage and turned the ball over 21 times.

“I’m proud of our effort,” said Moss-Stokes. “I’m totally thrilled. I’ve been hoping all season our hard work will pay off. Freeport has moved up in class, so it was nice to play them without having to see them again (in the playoffs). We did great on draw controls today. The things we’ve been focusing on in practice paid off. The next step is being in a close game and pulling out a victory. That’s what we’ll focus on.”

Playoff time

NYA projects to be the No. 7 seed in Class C and could have a showdown with rival Waynflete in the state quarterfinals if the standings remain the same.

“It’ll be interesting,” said Moss-Stokes. “What we need to do is have focus and determination. I just want the girls to have confidence. I’ve seen it from the start, but I don’t think they have until recently. We’re excited.”

Freeport now waits to see how the final Class B Heal Points shake out. It moved into the top spot after Wednesday’s win and will be home for the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

The Falcons and Greely could be on a collision course, which the Falcons hope will come in the state game, not the semifinals, but regardless, they’re ready for another title run.

In a new class no less.

“I’m ready for playoffs,” said Curtis. “We just need to work on fundamentals. Catching, throwing, ground balls. If we solidify that, we’ll be good.”

“A lot of us have played in state championship games and that will help us handle pressure,” said Mia Levesque. I think that we’ll come out strong for playoffs.”

“Either way, we’ll have to get through Greely,” Wood added. “We have to hope that York doesn’t sneak in and surprise people too. It’s been very interesting watching the (Heal Points) and I’m trying not to think too much about it.”

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

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.