Biddeford senior Paige Laverriere prepares to unleash a shot during a girls’ lacrosse game during the season. On Saturday, Laverriere set a program record with eight goals in a 18-4 Biddeford win over Gardiner/Hall-Dale in a Class B regional semifinal at Waterhouse Field. The win is the first playoff victory in program history. (MAUREEN GRANDMAISON PHOTOGRAPHY)

BIDDEFORD – Biddeford senior Paige Laverriere spent Friday night at Waterhouse Field commemorating high school graduation with her classmates.

Saturday, Laverriere set a Biddeford girls’ lacrosse single-game scoring record with eight goals and celebrated the first playoff win in program history with her teammates on the same field.

No. 4 Biddeford (11-2) defeated No. 5 Gardiner/Hall-Dale (7-6) 18-4 in a Class B regional semifinal.

“It means the world to me to be a part of this,” Laverriere said. “I just made history with my team – I just broke a record – this week’s been pretty great.”

Laverriere, whose record-setting goal gave Biddeford a 16-2 lead with just over three minutes left in the second half, knows what it’s like to be on the losing end in a single-elimination tournament. Last year, Biddeford lost 9-8 to Messalonskee in a regional semifinal. The year before Gorham also handed Biddeford a one-goal loss. In 2016, Laverriere’s freshman season, Thornton Academy ousted her from the playoffs, 15-1.

Abby Allen gets a low shot past Gardiner/Hall-Dale’s goalie, Skye Cotnoir, during the second half of Biddeford’s 18-4 win on Saturday at Waterhouse Field. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/JOURNAL TRIBUNE)

Biddeford coach Caitlin Albert emphasizes being better than last year at the start of each season. Building a winning culture – this year’s 11 wins is a program record – has taken time, but Albert feels the Tigers are starting to leave their print across the state. 

“We’re trying to make our mark in lacrosse and breakthrough,” said Albert, who became the head coach in 2012, the program’s second season. “I think this game shows we can breakthrough, and we can be a team that people have to watch out for.”

Biddeford advances to play at No. 1 Yarmouth (12-1) on Tuesday with a trip to Fitzpatrick Stadium and a birth in the state championship on the line. After the game clock hit triple zeroes against Gardiner/Hall-Dale, Albert gathered her players in a circle and reiterated the importance of their next match. “You’ve got to want it,” Albert said as she looked into the eyes of the 22 girls on her roster.

“I’m so ecstatic that they pulled this one out and won their first playoff game,” Albert said. “(But) don’t be satisfied – don’t be comfortable. We try to take things in stride, one game at a time … Yarmouth is ranked first in the state for a reason.”

If Biddeford is going to pull off the upset, they’ll need a performance similar to the effort showcased today. Biddeford’s offense took advantage of holes in their opponent’s defense early in the game, grabbing a 4-0 lead less than six minutes into the first half. With 16:42 still left on the clock, Laverriere’s hat-trick gave Biddeford a 6-0 edge.  

“Paige set the tone right away,” Albert said. “She’s really challenging her teammates and we’re seeing that on the field and at practice. She means everything to this team.”

Laverriere received plenty of help from her friends, with Brooke Reissfelder picking up her own hat-trick and Grace Boisvert, Kairlye McQueen, Megan Mourmouras and Abby Allen chipping in with two goals each. Goalie Ellen Mckenzie saved six shots. Biddeford put 26 shots up on Gardiner/Hall-Dale’s goalie Skye Cotnoir.

Biddeford’s 11th goal, which pushed the margin to 10 with 3:36 until halftime, came on a fastbreak sparked by a 30-yard pass from midfield by Gracie Ouellette to a wide-open Reissfelder down the right side. Reissfelder took a few steps, looked over her left shoulder and found Laverriere cutting down the middle for a shot before Cotnoir had a chance to recover.

The play showed the familiarity the Tigers have in one another.  

“We’re clicking,” Laverriere said. “We’re finding each other … (and) we understand each other’s intensity.”