PORTLAND – Becca and Lily Colley have played lacrosse since the first grade, pressed into service when their older sister Kate’s sixth-grade travel team fell short of players.
“We wouldn’t really touch the ball,” Lily said. “We’d just run around out there.”
On Wednesday night at Deering High, the Colley twins got to run around together as high school lacrosse players one last time. The two Wells High graduates took part in the 11th annual Maine Senior Game, an all-star doubleheader with some of the state’s best high school seniors.
“I wasn’t nervous as much as excited,” said Lily, who had three goals for the Blue in a 15-11 loss. “Coming from Wells, we kind of flew under the radar.”
Becca, who assisted on one of Lily’s goals and scored one with Lily’s assist, said Wells has made great strides to reach the playoffs her junior and senior years. Still, she looked forward to playing on a team with highly skilled players.
“It was so much fun,” Becca said. “Everyone is playing because they love to play. It’s not about who wins and who loses.”
While the 39 girls were divided more or less randomly by organizer Marcia Wood, the Scarborough High coach, the 54 boys were separated into Class B and Class A squads. In both games, the team scoring first never trailed, as the Class B boys prevailed 16-7 over Class A.
At the half of both games, the Maine Lacrosse Officials Association announced its Sportsmanship Awards: the Brunswick High boys and Waynflete girls. Also, the seventh annual Flossie Smith Award was given to Naomi Miller of Cony High, in recognition of the senior player who embodies the spirit and love of lacrosse, as did Smith, a Bonny Eagle coach who died of cancer.
Amy Allen of Waynflete and Ellie Morin of Scarborough each scored three times for the White squad, capping a perfect senior year for Morin, who won every field hockey, basketball and lacrosse game she played. Two of her goals came courtesy of assists by Red Storm teammate Lindsay Hagerman, who scored two herself.
“They have that unspoken language of knowing where each other is going to be,” said Wood, their coach. “They’ve been doing it since sixth grade. All they need is eye contact.”
Whitney Dano of Mt. Ararat also scored twice, and was named MVP of the White squad. Morgan Woodhouse of Waynflete, Cassandra Diplock of Cony, Sarah Alexander of Sanford, Molly Curry of Yarmouth and Miller, of Cony, also scored.
For the Blue squad, York’s Ashley Neal played the entire game in goal and was named MVP. Leila Mills of Brunswick tallied a game-high four goals. Emma Sipperly of Falmouth, Grace Fitzpatrick of Cheverus and Brooke Worcester of Kennebunk also scored.
Up on the top row of the bleachers, Kevin and Nancy Colley watched their daughters’ high school careers wind down. Both graduated with high honors and were admitted to every college to which they applied.
“Lily is left-handed and plays with more passion and emotion,” said Wells Coach Kayla Hinkley, seated next to Nancy Colley. “Becca is right-handed and plays with an incredible intelligence. Together, they’re whole. Their connection is great.”
Becca plans to continue her lacrosse career at Guilford College in North Carolina. Lily, a high-scoring shooting guard for the Wells basketball team, plans to play varsity basketball at Clark University and club lacrosse.
They are not identical twins, and never seriously considered attending the same college.
“Eighteen years together is enough,” Becca said. “Time to get a little space.”
Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
gjordan@pressherald.com
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