KENNEBUNK — They’re not facing complete strangers, but it’s been a while since the No. 4 Kennebunk girls have faced No. 2 Thornton Academy on the lacrosse field.

You’d have to flip the calendar back one year to last year’s Western Maine Class A quarterfinal to find the last meeting, one that the Rams won 9-5 on their way to a berth in the state championship game.

Thornton was still looking for its first playoff win at the time, but now have two, which sets up today’s Western Maine championship game, hosted by Thornton at 4 p.m.

A lot of lacrosse has been played since the last meeting, so the Rams (11-3) are looking at Thornton as posing more unknowns than knowns.

“It’s kind of tough,” said senior co-captain defender Lindsay Ostrander, “because we haven’t played them all season. But coach has told us things about them she’s heard from other coaches. We’re just trying to home in on those specifics.”

Co-captain midfield Jen Bryant agreed.

“I think we’re just going to have to play our game,” she said. “We’re just going to have to come ready and prepared. Be focused and in the right state of mind.”

While Kennebunk, led by senior Jamie Spang, is known for its fast-paced attack, it’s the Rams’ defense that has been the perhaps the team’s best kept secret.

Dogged Ram defenders have held opposing scorers to less than 10 goals in 12 of 14 starts.

“When the (opposing) offense comes down the field,” said Bryant, “we always try to (force) a turnover as soon as possible, and get it back on the offensive end.”

Ostrander said that hustling the ball back up field has been a crucial element in setting up the Kennebunk attack.

“All the success we’ve had this season has started with the defense,” she said. “It’s true that offense sells tickets, but defense sells championships. I hope that’s true this tournament. When the defense is working well, the offense can feel confident that the don’t have to force a pass or rush a bad shot.”

One element that the Rams will hope to use to its advantage is it’s great playoff experience.

They cite that sense of “seen it all before” for having spurred them to last Saturday’s last-minute win over a plucky Gorham squad in the Western semifinal.

“All four years I’ve been on the team,” said Ostrander, “we’ve been a playoff team. We know how to pull it out. When we’re down, we know how to get back up. It’s really rare for us to get down. I hate losing.

“I don’t underestimate their (Thornton’s) drive. But I know that having been so close the last couple of years, it’s really a p ush for us to go farther. Being in playoffs, I know what mind set we have to come with. I think that’s a huge advantage.”

Bryant said she feels that Kennebunk won’t be taking the Trojans lightly, which again, is another side benefit of experience.

“Being in the playoffs,” she said, “you learn not to underestimate anybody. You just come focused and play your game.”

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