PORTLAND – From the first draw to the final five minutes of extended keepaway Saturday, the Waynflete girls’ lacrosse team dominated Kennebunk for a 16-1 victory.
“I’m psyched. I’m surprised. I knew when you have seven seniors and seven juniors eventually it kicks in. Today it kicked in,” Waynflete Coach Cathie Connors said.
Videos
Additional Photos
Martha Veroneau had five goals and four assists, all but one of the points coming in a first half in which the Flyers (3-0) opened a 10-0 lead.
Walker Foehl had four goals and an assist, and five other Flyers scored at least once.
“We just know where everyone is going to be so that really helps,” said Foehl. “If something gets thrown at us, we can adjust really well.”
Kennebunk (2-1) offered little resistance, in large part because Waynflete won 12 of the 17 draws (Veroneau and attack Sadie Cole initiated for the Flyers) and forced quick turnovers on two of the Rams’ wins.
“The biggest thing I told my team is that this (Waynflete) oiled machine has been together three and four years. They know where everyone is going to be at any given moment, at any given time,” Kennebunk Coach Annie Barker said.
“We did not win the draw. We did not have the ball most of the game and when we did have the ball, they were very good at stripping us.”
Waynflete had two, sometimes three people facing and corralling the ball on rare Kennebunk offensive-zone possessions. That led to forced passes and tough shots. Katherine Torrey stopped all five shots put on goal in the first half.
“Everyone just hustled really well. I think it’s just the heart that we put into it that translates into a beautiful game of lacrosse,” Torrey said. “Kennebunk always plays a beautiful game; that’s why I just couldn’t be more proud of the way things turned out.”
One of Torrey’s top saves was a block on a quick-stick attempt by Jennifer Bush, one of the four freshmen playing for Kennebunk. The Flyers turned it into a transition opportunity with Isabel Agnew converting from Leigh Fernandez for a 6-0 lead with 7:32 left in the half.
Veroneau scored once on a run from midfield after a Kennebunk whistle and set up three other goals before the half was out, the last from Ella Millard with less than a second to go off a free-position play.
Goals by Foehl and Cole pushed the lead to 12-0 early in the second half before Carly Sandler, another freshman, was finally able to put Kennebunk on the board.
Waynflete will travel Monday to Fryeburg Academy, but the focus was quickly shifting to Wednesday’s game at Cape Elizabeth, a rematch of the 2012 Western Class B final won by Waynflete in triple overtime.
“Cape is really good. We played them in a preseason tournament and saw a glimpse of their potential,” Veroneau said.
“It will be a tough match but we’re excited.”
Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or at:
scraig@mainetoday.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
