Cape Elizabeth’s girls lacrosse team needed to be pushed into action Saturday. On five separate occasions they came back to tie the score against visiting Greely, finally overcoming a three-goal deficit with less than 10 minutes to play.

The Capers led for less than four of the contest’s 50 minutes, but they were ahead when the final horn sounded, topping the Rangers, 10-9, for a stirring victory.

“I think we were a little timid going to net in the first half,” said Cape’s Sarah Landis, who scored four goals, “but in the second half we just took control. We knew that we could beat their defenders one on one, so we did.”

For Greely, the result was a great disappointment. Coach Peter Wiles said before the game that the match-up would help him determine what type of squad he had this year. For most of the way, his team held their own against the hosts, but suddenly they collapsed.

“I don’t know exactly what happened,” said a dejected Kate Otley, who netted five goals for the Rangers. “They were playing hard and we were playing hard, but sometimes that’s just how it goes.”

Otley started the scoring just two minutes in. The Capers responded with a flurry of pressure, but had difficulty getting the ball past Greely goalkeeper Hanna Groom. It took nearly nine minutes for Cape to tie the score, but Carly Rapaport did so with a quick shot after a pass from Jill Smith.

As the half ended, each team added another goal, with Hanna Landis making it 2-2 before the break.

The caution exhibited by both teams to that point resulted in a low-scoring first half, with no indication the two squads were about to explode for 15 goals in the final 25 minutes.

The Capers took their first lead two minutes into the second half when Sarah Landis cut across the goal and flipped a shot past Groom, but Otley came back with two goals within 14 seconds. Grace Needleman knotted the score again, but the Rangers then scored four goals to Cape’s one over the next six minutes.

Down 8-5 and apparently unable to slow their opponents’ offense, the Capers looked as though they were about to be humbled by their rivals.

“We knew if we got the ball that we had the chance,” said Sarah Kinsella, the Cape coach. “I think we were two even teams and it was a possession game. Whoever had the ball had an opportunity to score, so we needed to fight for ground balls, to win the draws. I had confidence.”

With 9:16 on the clock, Sarah Landis scooped a shot that was wide to Groom’s right, came around the front and cut the margin to two. A minute later the twins connected, Hanna Landis getting the ball to Sarah, who fired it in and it was a one-goal game.

At 7:44 Caty Smith’s bouncer tied the score, 8-8, but a short while later the Rangers took the lead for the fifth time when Karly Daigle scored her second.

Sarah Landis created the sixth tie of the afternoon when she maneuvered by two defenders and scored her fourth goal.

“We started winning the faceoffs. We were aggressive,” said the senior. “We kept control, and that was a huge part.”

Both teams desperately fought for grounders and attempted to create offense. With under three minutes to go, Abbie Attwood picked up a loose ball for Cape and came to the right side. She flipped a pass to Emma Hanson, who made a smooth catch and turn at midfield, charging down the right side and then cutting to the center. Hanna Landis then took a pass and fired home a shot to put her squad up for good.

“We just decided we were going to come back. All of a sudden we just flew,” said Landis. “I think we were trying to focus too much on settling, and then we just decided we were going to take it in, to take risks.”

Capers goalkeeper Meghan Mowles stopped a last-ditch Greely effort, preserving the win with just seconds remaining.

“I was pretty proud of that,” said Mowles. “My spot was on the line, and I made sure I stepped it up.”

With the victory and a 9-7 win over York on Monday, the Cape girls stand at 4-0. Freeport (0-3) is scheduled for Wednesday and a tough Yarmouth squad (4-1) comes to town on Monday.

“I told the girls that what won the game for them is that they stuck together. They didn’t give up,” said Kinsella. “I think that in that situation they could have given up and gotten down on each other. We try hard not to let that happen.

“From attack right through to goalie, everybody was there to play today. I’m really proud of them.”

Copy the Story Link