PORTLAND—The script was familiar.
So was the result.
Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Stadium, a highly anticipated Class B girls’ lacrosse state final came down to the final second, just not the way many expected.
Fourth-ranked Greely, the two-time reigning state champion, rolled to a decisive halftime lead over fourth-seeded Freeport, which won Class C a year ago before moving up, but to the shock of no one, the Falcons did their part to make things interesting by roaring back in the second half.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead, as Freeport couldn’t get out of its own way and two goals apiece from senior standout Asja Kelman and junior Kylie Lord gave Greely a 4-1 advantage after one quarter.
Senior star Eva Williams, who was stuck in a cheerleader role as a junior as she was sidelined with a knee injury, stretched the lead with a goal early in the second period, then Lord scored once more before sophomore Kelsey Crocker finished for a seemingly commanding 7-1 lead at the break.
The Falcons then rediscovered what’s made them close to unbeatable all spring, erupting for four goals, from four different players, in the third period to get right back in the game.
Williams set up junior Jane Flynn for an insurance goal midway through the fourth quarter and that loomed enormous as Freeport’s junior standout Lana DiRusso buried a couple of free position shots to make it a one-goal game.
The Falcons even got the ball twice down the stretch, but couldn’t manage a potential game-tying shot either time and the Rangers held on for dear life to prevail, 8-7.
Lord scored three goals, Kelman added two and Williams bowed out with five assists, as Greely won its third straight Class B title and its fourth crown overall, finishing 13-4 in the process, while ending Freeport’s win streak at 14 games and its terrific season at 15-2.
“This is the sweetest championship yet for me and the team,” said Rangers coach Becca Koelker. “We had to start over and we built it from the ground up. I got nervous in the second half, but the message was to just get back to basics and keep possession. All credit to Freeport. They rose up. It could have gone either way. It was just a one-possession difference.”
The game we’ve been waiting for
Greely rolled to its second straight Class B state title a year ago and as soon as Freeport moved up to Class B this spring, a year after capturing a Class C title, a potential Falcons-Rangers state game showdown was on the table.
When Greely eked out an 8-7 overtime victory (on Williams’ goal) April 19, most fans were hoping a rematch would come to fruition on the big stage.
That’s because both teams dazzled during the regular season (see sidebar for links to previous stories).
The Rangers would lose to three-time reigning Class A champion Kennebunk, as well as eventual Class A finalists Falmouth and Yarmouth, but won their other 10 games.
As the No. 4 seed in Class B, Greely advanced by dominating No. 5 Cony in the quarterfinals (18-3) and holding off No. 1 Mt. Ararat (13-9) in a semifinal round contest played at Messalonskee.
Freeport didn’t stumble after losing to Greely, closing on a 12-game win streak.
The Falcons then defeated No. 10 York (13-7) in the quarterfinals before rolling past No. 6 Messalonskee (18-1) in Wednesday’s state semifinals in Oakland.
Freeport was 1-3 in prior state game appearances, while Greely was 3-3 (see sidebar)
The Falcons and Rangers had no playoff history.
Saturday, they made some, as Greely’s experience in close games and big games was just enough to produce another shiny piece of hardware.
Both teams had multiple turnovers early, but with 8:49 left in the first half, Kelman scored on a free position, firing a shot over Freeport junior goalie Hailly Curtis’ shoulder and in to put the Rangers in front to stay.
After Falcons junior captain Mia Levesque bounced a free position shot high and junior Emma White’s free position opportunity was cut short by a false start, Williams first made her presence felt on offense, drawing the defense, then setting up Lord, who faked, then shot past Curtis for a 2-0 lead with 6:25 on the clock.
Freeport coach Marcia Wood called timeout to try and figure out what ailed her team, but it didn’t work.
After Curtis saved a free position shot from sophomore Audrey Ingersoll, Flynn threaded a pretty pass to Lord, who scored for a 3-0 lead with 5:03 left in the frame.
“We were worried about (Asja and Eva) being face-guarded, so we had to step up and play our roles,” Lord said. “I’m excited I could come through for my teammates. There are no words to describe it. The ego boost is just amazing and I did it for my teammates.”
“Kylie is a great person to have on the team,” Kelman said. “I love her so much. We can always count on her and she showed up today.”
“Kylie was amazing,” Williams said. “I’ve been waiting for her to do everything she can and she did it today. She’s so skilled and capable. For her to see her opportunities and have the confidence to take them was amazing.”
After DiRusso committed another false start on a free position, the Rangers transitioned to offense and the deadly Williams-to-Kelman connection produced one final goal, as Kelman sent the ball into the upper corner.
“Our whole plan was to push the fast break and we knew it could hurt them,”Kelman said. “We moved the ball and got out and got ahead.”
“That was the hope for this game to come out strong,” Koelker said. “We had to come out with fire and we did.”
After DiRusso had a shot blocked, the Falcons finally got on the board with 47.8 seconds to go, as DiRusso scored on a free position, beating Greely junior goalie Mya Vickerson.
Levesque had a chance to pull Freeport closer as time wound down, but sophomore defender Avery Bush knocked the ball away and the Rangers held a 4-1 advantage after 12 minutes.
“I’m not really sure what happened in the first period and (the girls aren’t) really sure what happened,” said Freeport coach Marcia Wood. “It happens to the best of teams. The girls were nervous, but a bunch of them were here last year and a bunch played in states in field hockey. No matter what, nerves will be a part of it. We hadn’t really been down in a game. We didn’t adjust to that very well.”
Things then went from bad to worse for the Falcons in the second period.
After Curtis denied Crocker and Flynn missed wide, Williams was awarded a free position and she wouldn’t be denied, finding the net with 8:26 to go in the half.
“The fast start was the difference,” Williams said. “We showed up with energy. You should have seen us on the bus, the singing, the dancing, the bonding. I think what makes a team is what happens off the field.”
After Vickerson denied DiRusso on a free position, Levesque missed just high and DiRusso was robbed in close.
Greely then finished the half on a surge, as Williams ran the ball into the offensive zone, then fed Lord for a goal with 1:03 on the clock and with 16.3 seconds showing, Williams fed Crocker for a goal and a seemingly safe 7-1 advantage.
The game was far from over, however.
Freeport began its comeback with 9:48 to go in the third quarter, as Levesque buried a free position shot.
A mere 73 seconds later, DiRusso got to take a free position and she scored as well, forcing Koelker to take timeout.
It didn’t help, as the Falcons kept coming.
With 7 minutes to go in the frame, junior Emma White set up sophomore Reed Proscia for a goal.
Williams then had to sit for two minutes with a yellow card and Freeport capitalized, as White fed senior Kiley Webber for a goal with 4:25 on the clock.
Freeport couldn’t get any closer, however, as Levesque missed high, then had a free position shot saved by Vickerson.
The contest would remain in doubt throughout the fourth period as well.
Early on, Kelman missed wide and Flynn shot high, but with 5:36 left in regulation, Flynn took a pass from Williams and beat Curtis to stem the tide, ending an 18 minute, 40 second scoring drought.
But still, the Falcons weren’t finished, as DiRusso scored on a free position while falling with 3:15 to go and she converted another free position 55 seconds later to suddenly make it a one-goal contest.
Williams won the ensuing draw and Koelker called timeout.
Out of the break, Greely tried to run out the clock, but it turned the ball over.
Freeport couldn’t capitalize, however, throwing the ball away.
The Falcons got it back one final time, but senior Kylie Crocker forced a turnover and after both Kelman and Kelsey Crocker kept possession by scooping up ground balls, the Rangers were able to milk the clock until it hit 0.0 and at 2:12 p.m., they exhaled and celebrated their 8-7 victory.
“It means the whole world,,” said the effervescent Williams, who will attend Colby College next year and hopes to make the lacrosse team. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment since the minute I (injured my knee). I’m so happy and I’m so proud of this team. It just came down to the mental game. I watch so many teams get down and they can’t come back. Not because they aren’t more skilled or they don’t have the stamina, but because they can’t get over the mental piece. We had to go back to the little things. Catching first, moving the ball, making smart passes. When you’re up, you can’t force it. I’m so thankful for a team that’s worked so hard on and off the field. You never realize how much team sports give you. To have a team to take me this far is such an honor, especially at such a great school.”
“It was pretty stressful watching them get closer and closer,” Kelman said. “We didn’t focus on the score. We focused on each other and that’s how we won the game today. Our zone has been getting more refined every day. We trusted we had some of the best defenders out there. It’s a dream come true. I couldn’t imagine doing it with any other team. I’m so proud of everyone here. I can’t imagine a better way to go out. It was our year. It’s so meaningful.”
“I can’t describe the feeling,” Kylie Crocker said. “I’m over the moon. We were up and I knew they’d come out stronger. When they came back, it was difficult, but we kept our composure and we held on. It was a bunch of teamwork that helped us out. I knew my teammates had my back. We have very good team chemistry. We put all of our effort in together. We’re so glad to get a three-peat, it’s so exciting.”
“We made it interesting,” added Koelker. “In the first half, our offense carried us and in the second half, our defense showed up big. There was a little bit of relief, then the exhilaration comes right after it.”
Greely’s offense was paced by Kylie Lord, who scored three goals.
“I just woke up today and believed in myself and my teammates,” Lord said. “We were going to get it done. We’d worked too hard this season to come out here and leave empty-handed.”
Kelman bowed out with two goals, while Kelsey Crocker, Flynn and Williams all scored once.
Williams also distributed beautifully, assisting on five goals.
“Working with Eva all year was such a great feeling,” Kelman said.
Flynn had one assist.
Vickerson made three saves.
The Rangers had a 12-7 edge in the draw circle, enjoyed a 21-16 advantage in shots (13-10 on cage) and overcame 20 turnovers.
So close
Freeport’s effort was paced by DiRusso, who scored four times. Levesque, Proscia and Webber each had one goal.
White had a pair of assists.
Curtis made five saves.
The Falcons had a 14-13 edge in ground balls (DiRusso had a game-high four) and turned the ball over 14 times.
“Was this not the typical Greely-Freeport game?” Wood said. “I think it’s been this way every single time we play them, they just go up fast and as much as we battle back, that hole is too big. When it was 7-1, I said at halftime, ‘We need to do something so this doesn’t get embarrassing.’ We knew it was possible. To come back in the third period and to battle to the end, it’s really hard to look past the loss and I know it stings, but you have to look at the whole game. It could have been really bad, but we made it a battle. To battle back is impressive.
“I always want this to be our best game and I don’t think we played our best game. I think we played a really good third quarter. To win a state championship, you need to play an entire game. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that and Greely did.
“We had a great season. We moved up a class and got back here.”
Freeport only loses three seniors and a strong core will return in 2025, perhaps poised to take the next step and finish the job.
“You want your seniors to end their year with a good one, but I have to also think about my underclassmen getting ready for next year,” Wood said. “I hope to get back here again next year. I’m looking forward to next season. We proved why we belong in this class.”
One more for four?
Graduation hit Greely hard a year ago and that will be the case again, as Kelman and Williams are irreplaceable, all-time program greats, Kylie Crocker and Katie Dubbert are defensive standouts and Maggie Jacobson, Lydia Miller and Maeve Russell also depart.
“The seniors’ communication, I’ve never seen it before,” Lord said. “They’re the best captains I’ve had in my high school career. I’m excited I got to work with them this season.”
“I do think our senior group powered us through to victory,” Koelker said.
As has been the case the past few years, the returning Rangers will look to keep the program at the top and it wouldn’t be wise to bet against them.
“Winning four years in a row would be amazing, but I’m just going to live in the moment right now,” Lord said.
“I’m hoping this gives us momentum going forward,” said Koelker. “We graduate a bunch, but the community knows this is the standard of our program. We’ll start from zero next year. We love to have everyone gunning for us and hopefully we get back here. It’s just the best feeling.”
