PORTLAND — It mattered. A lot. Which is why it hurt a lot.

The pain was etched on the faces of the likes of Jamie Spang and Meghan Smith, of Maggie Lavoie and Jen Bryant, and the rest of the Kennebunk girls lacrosse sorority.

It was visible, almost palpable, even clear across the Fitzpatrick Stadium turf, where the Rams had just tangled with the unbeaten, defending state champions from Brunswick and came out on the short end of a 13-9 score in Saturday’s Class A state championship tilt.

The Rams had given Brunswick its toughest test of the season — by far —  and still it wasn’t quite enough to keep the Dragons from winning their second straight title, or saving themselves the heartbreak of walking out of Fitzy as runners-up for the third year in-a-row.

“This being the third time,” said Spang, after scoring three times to close out her stellar Kennebunk career, “it’s hard to lose. But we played as many games as we could. Which is something to be respected for.”

Still, as they walked off with tear-flooded eyes and flushed faces, they walked together.

As sisters.

Lavoie consoling Spang, who was doubled over in grief. Seniors Jen Bryant and Lindsay Ostrander, each grabbing the other’s shoulders, grasping the disappointment, refusing to let go of the moment.

Goalie Taylor Vaughan, with no more saves to make, still hidden behind a wire mask that could protect her face but couldn’t prevent her sobs from pouring into the air, even as her teammates tried to surround her.

Private sorrow.

Public stage.

The biggest one the state of Maine has to offer.

The cruelest one, too.

“This team is all like my best friends,” said Spang. “And I’ll really miss playing with them. We were really close. The closest I’ve ever been with a group of girls. And I think that has a lot to do with why a lot of us are upset. It’s especially hard for all the seniors.”

It wasn’t what the Rams had hoped for, and certainly not what they planned on or sacrificed for.

A remarkable season, and for the seniors, remarkable careers, had ground to a halt.

“I love them,” said Ostrander, of her teammates. “I don’t want to leave them. Losing definitely stinks. But leaving this team is what I’m going to miss out of any high school experience. 

Ostrander and the rest of the Rams certainly sucked the marrow out of this experience.

One that might have ended a little differently if they could have won a few more draws, or built off the 1-0 lead Lavoie gave them in the game’s opening moments.

However, Brunswick roared back with five straight goals in a span of 4:28, and even with nearly 45 minutes left to play, the Rams were left with a steep mountain to climb.

“They got up, and they had the ball a lot,” said Spang. “So they got more confident and didn’t need to go to goal as soon as possible. When we got the ball, we had this urgency to get to goal, and that caused a lot of turnovers, or bad shots.”

Said Kennebunk coach Annie Barker, “He who has the ball the most, wins the game.”

As it was, Kennebunk scored more goals against the Dragons than anybody else did all year. Allowed them fewer goals than anyone else did, too.

Twice the Rams made audible rally noises, including midway through the first half when goals by Lavoie and Spang cut the margin to 5-3.

The second time came late in the game, when Molly Centore, Brooke Worcester, and Lavoie all tallied to pull Kennebunk to within 12-9 with 5:16 to play.

However any Ram threats were answered by swift and stiff Brunswick responses.

“It would have helped a lot,” said Ostrander, “if we were able to win some of those draws, and had them go our way. But when they had it, they knew how to hold onto it.”

For Brunswick, that education came as much from its own failures as successes.

The Dragons dropped back-to-back title appearances in 2006 (in overtime to Scarborough) and 2007 (to Massabesic), but still found their way back.

“On the bus ride down here,” said Brunswick coach Beth Caputi, “we were having a blast. We were totally loose. And I was thinking that win or lose, I (knew) we were going to have a fun bus ride home. Because that’s just the way we are.

“The first year we lost, it was heartbreaking. By the time we got onto the bus, they are hooting and hollering ”˜turn the music up.’ All through Brunswick, they’re (yelling) ”˜we’re Number Two.’ They set the tone for the following year for the next group, who said, ”˜you know, we still had an awesome season.’”

Which is what Kennebunk can console itself with.

Make that three times over.

“(These) are memories I won’t forget,” said Ostrander.

“I was saying this this morning to my team (that) when you hear about other teams nearby going to states, you think, ”˜oh, wow, that’s good for them.’ You don’t really get to appreciate it when you are in the playoffs. It’s amazing that we’ve gotten here this year. Let alone three years in a row. I think that getting here is a huge feat in itself.”

That’s what matters most.

— Contact Dan Hickling at 282-1535 ext. 318 or dhickling@journaltribune.com.