Apr. 16—There’s no denying that when it comes to girls lacrosse in Maine, there is a well-defined pecking order.
There are the perennial powers who year after year are contending for state titles. Their dominance has led to some impressive streaks.
Defending Class A champion Yarmouth has been to a state final 11 consecutive seasons, the first eight in Class B. Kennebunk reached a state final seven times in eight seasons between 2015-23. Greely has won three straight Class B titles and has been in four consecutive state championship games. Add Class A Falmouth, Class B Freeport and Class C Waynflete to the list, and they account for 11 of the 12 state champions since 2021 (North Yarmouth Academy won Class C in 2022).
So what does the rest of the state have to do to close the gap and break through?
Windham senior midfielder Grace Joly has an idea of what it takes. The Eagles are one of the teams on the cusp. They have been one of the final four Class A teams in four of the past seven seasons.
The way Joly sees it, desire has fueled extra offseason work, which has produced increased confidence.
“I think this year we have come into this season with overwhelming confidence that we can be better than just top four. We can go higher than that,” Joly said. “And I think that is what’s going to push us to the end.”
Twice, Windham lost by a goal in the regional final. Last season, with Class A operating as a statewide tournament, Windham won two playoff games but ran into a buzzsaw in the semifinals, losing 14-0 at top-seeded Falmouth.
What defined the gap? Windham coach Matt Perkins said on the field it often boils down to basics. Both teams had top-end talent. Falmouth had more fundamentally sound contributors.
“They did a really good job defending us, and our biggest thing going into the offseason was we needed more people who were able to catch and pass. It’s pretty cliché and simple, but it’s very factual,” Perkins said.
Perkins said the top teams from what he called “the Coastal Belt,” also have more travel lacrosse players.
“And those programs have had lacrosse longer. History and tradition have a lot to do with this sport,” Perkins said.
One factor in the concentration of power is that Falmouth, Kennebunk, Yarmouth and 2018 and 2019 Class B champion Cape Elizabeth now petition up to join Class A. When those teams were beating each other up in Class B in the two-class system, Class A had several different championship teams. Scarborough and Brunswick were the standouts from 2006-12. Then in succession, Cheverus, Marshwood, Massabesic, Messalonskee and Massabesic won Class A from 2013-17. Falmouth and Kennebunk shifted to Class A in 2018 and combined to win the next five Class A titles.
There are signs that this season could produce a breakout winner, especially in Class C or Class A.
In Class C, Wells has been to two of the past three state championship games. Second-year coach Morgan Pike returns almost her entire team, including nine seniors, and three all-Western Maine Conference players in junior midfielder Caitlin Rooney (34 goals), senior midfielder Kendall Maxon and senior defender Hayden Meffert.
In the large-school division, Windham returns plenty of firepower from its 12-4 team a year ago. Juniors Abby Trainor and Neve Ledbetter scored 88 and 55 goals, respectively, and Joly added 47.
A strong offseason, both in terms of lacrosse-specific activities and weight-room conditioning, has raised confidence.
“There was more want to play. More will to go to things,” Ledbetter said. “There was more mental, personal drive to get better, which I think is different from what we had last year.”
Trainor, who has committed to play in college at Fairfield University, said she’s not convinced the gap between Windham and the top tier squads is as “big as it gets perceived.” Sometimes it’s the players themselves “who have it in their head” that beating the top teams is not possible.
“The gap isn’t as big now because we’ve all taken this next step to improve ourselves,” Trainor said. “Everything is friendly and fluid, and we’re all trying to get better together.”
Cheverus is another squad building toward a title run after its freshman-heavy team went 10-6 in 2024, falling to Yarmouth in the quarterfinals after leading at halftime.
“What it comes down to across the board — whether you’re a Kennebunk, a Cheverus, or a Windham — is you need lacrosse players,” second-year Stags coach Will Tuttle said. “It’s a wonderful sport. You can be an athlete and you can pick up a stick and do pretty well for yourself in a couple of weeks. That being said, the girls who really excel do have that technical ability. They consider themselves lacrosse players first.”
“We will be successful because I have several young girls who see themselves as lacrosse players,” Tuttle added.
Among those at Cheverus are sophomore midfielder Sydney Brunelle (48 goals, 13 assists), senior attack Sophia St. John, who will play in college at Assumption, and sophomore defender Taylor Hoglund.
While the end-of-season results have been predictable in recent seasons, 23-year Yarmouth coach Dorothy Holt believes the overall competitive trend is positive.
“I just think every year everyone is getting more and more competitive,” Holt said. “It’s fun to see. The game is getting quicker and faster, and the kids are getting more looks in college. And I really feel the games are more competitive and there are more kids playing at a higher level.”
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