The Cape Elizabeth boys lacrosse team wanted to take Waynflete out of the game early. What the Capers did was deliver the knockout blow before the Flyers even knew what hit them.
No. 2 Cape (9-4) scored the game’s first 12 goals on its way to a 15-3 rout of No. 3 Waynflete (4-9) in Saturday’s Western Maine Class B semifinal game played at Hannaford Field in Cape Elizabeth.
The Capers were scheduled to play for the regional title at No. 1 Greely (12-1) on Wednesday night, after the Current’s deadline. Greely defeated No. 4 Falmouth 7-6 in overtime in Saturday’s other semifinal. Greely topped Cape 7-6 in overtime when the teams met during the regular season on May 30.
Cape went up 8-0 after the first quarter against Waynflete and held the Flyers off the scoreboard until 23.1 seconds remained in the half. It was 12-1 in favor of the Capers at the break.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game,” said Cape coach Ben Raymond. “You always want to get off to a fast start, especially in the playoffs. When a lower seed comes in, you don’t want to give them any confidence to begin with. You want to score the first goal, not let their goalie get into a rhythm, then take it from there.”
Mike Holden paced the Caper offense with five goals and three assists. Zach Belden added three goals and four assists, and Jim Wilcox scored a pair. Then there was the fast and physical Cape defense that frustrated the Flyers throughout.
“Our defense played well,” Raymond said. “They pressured the ball. I don’t think Waynflete has seen the pressure like our guys put on them today during the regular season. We’re lucky to play the toughest schedule in the state, so our kids are tested every single day. I think that’s benefited our guys a lot during the regular season and now into the playoffs.”
Cape’s tough schedule is a product of its storied past. With the tiered scheduling instituted in Western Maine boys lacrosse for the first time this season, perennial powers – even if in other classes – were pitted against one another night in and night out, while newer and less-accomplished teams played one another.
Since the Maine Principals’ Association began sanctioning boys lacrosse in 1998, Cape has won six state titles. The Capers played for the title each year from 1998 to 2005, but have not reached the championship game in the past two seasons.
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