Laura Baginski scored 3:45 into the second overtime Monday to lift Waynflete to an 11-10 victory over Lake Region in a Western Maine Conference girls’ lacrosse game at Fore River Field.
Baginski’s third goal of the game ended a seesaw battle in which the scored was tied or the lead changed hands nine times.
“I honestly think it came down to heart and hustle and who wanted it more,” Baginski said.
The victory gave the Flyers a leg up over the Lakers in the race for the sixth and final playoff berth in Class B South.
“It was a super-fun game, but it was stressful,” Waynflete Coach Cathie Connors said. “We knew they have super-strong players and it was going to depend on who scored last.”
“It was the first time we’ve gone into double overtime,” Lake Region Coach David Keenan said. “It was an exciting game between two evenly-matched teams.”
Keenan and Connors are brother and sister, so the game held special significance for them.
“We’ve played each other three times, and all of the games have been close,” Keenan said. “The last two games have been (decided by one goal), and my sister’s team has won both of them.”
This is Lake Region’s third season of varsity competition. Waynflete has won 10 state championships, most recently in 2013.
“I’m really proud of my brother and what he has done for the program at Lake Region,” Connors said.
The Lakers (4-4) jumped to a 3-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game, but Waynflete (6-3) reeled off five straight goals to move ahead 5-3 with less than five minutes left in the first half.
Lauren Jakobs and Melissa Bonenfant scored in the last three minutes of the half to forge a 5-5 tie.
Jakobs, who won 16 of 24 draws, sent the game into overtime when she weaved her way through traffic to score her second goal of the game with less than three minutes left in regulation.
Avis Akers, Waynflete’s freshman goalie, made a save during each sudden-death overtime.
“Both defenses played well, and I think the difference was their goalie got hot at the end,” Keenan said.
Akers finished with 10 saves.
“My focus was just to get in front of the ball and don’t let them score,” said Akers. “I think our defense did an amazing job with holding them up on some of their shots.”
“I am so proud of (Avis),” Connors said. “Every game (she) is just a little bit better. For a freshman, she is unbelievable. She’s really coming along and working hard.”
LZ Olney led the Flyers in scoring with four goals and two assists. Ya Stockford scored three goals, Isabel Canning contributed three assists and Izzy Burdick had a goal and an assist.
Bonenfant and Rachel Shanks each scored four goals for the Lakers. Lindsey Keenan had six assists, and Jakobs set up a goal.
The Lakers held a 20-19 edge in shots.
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