FALMOUTH — Inscribed somewhere on an arm or leg of each player on the Yarmouth girls’ lacrosse team is the phrase “21 Strong,” referring to the number of the players on the varsity roster.
It took a solid effort from each player Friday for the unbeaten Clippers pull out a 9-8 win against Falmouth in the regular-season finale for both teams.
“Today we truly showed we are 21 strong,” said Elia Antolini, who scored the tiebreaking goal with four minutes left. “We had injuries. We had people who momentarily lost their composure, and every single individual on our team was ready to step up and was ready to come into the game composed and ready to play.”
Yarmouth (12-0) will go into the Class B North playoffs as the top seed. The Clippers have won four straight regional titles.
“Going 12-0 is awesome,” Antolini said. “We drilled into everybody that every single individual was going to matter, whether it was in practice or on the bus going to games … Everybody had to meet such high standards on this team, and I could not be prouder that we’ve played up to our capabilities.”
Falmouth (9-3), which will enter the Class B South playoffs as the No. 2 seed, didn’t make it easy for the Clippers.
“We haven’t had that sort of midfield pressure on us before,” Antolini said. “That’s where our hard work made the difference. Everyone dug so deep, and that’s the kind of team that goes all the way.”
The score was tied or the lead changed hands 13 times.
“It was a great game, and it could have gone either way,” Falmouth Coach Kait Johnson said. “One more minute, and who knows what might have happened.”
Johnson was proud of her team’s performance.
Yarmouth’s Meredith Lane and Falmouth’s Sydney Bell compete for a loose ball during Friday’s game.
“We worked the entire game,” she said. “I think Yarmouth is the best team in the state right now. They’re so strong and we are right up there with them. I’m so happy with that.”
The Clippers rallied to score the final three goals after Falmouth took an 8-6 lead a little more than eight minutes into the second half.
Antolini finished with three goals and an assist. Meredith Lane added two goals, Greta Elder had a goal and an assist, and Molly Wilson, Eliza Lunt and Eva Then also scored. Katie Waeldner, who left the game because of a leg injury with about 10 minutes remaining, collected an assist.
Caitlyn Camelio led Falmouth with two goals and an assist. Sydney Bell also scored twice, Olivia Stucker had a goal and an assist, and Amelia Waite, Chelsey Smithwick and Kayla Sarazin were the other goal scorers.
Mary Budri made 11 saves for Falmouth. Several came on free-position shots, where the shooters were able to go one-on-one against the goalie following a foul inside the arc.
“(She is) one of the better goalies we’ve seen,” Antolini said. “We found out early you had to make her move in order to get the ball into the back of the net.”
Mary Kate Gunville stopped five shots for the Clippers.
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