YARMOUTH — Aine Powers is only a freshman, but she’s already playing a huge role for the Yarmouth girls’ lacrosse team.
Powers got her team off to a fast start Friday, scoring three straight goals as Yarmouth celebrated Senior Night on Friday with an eighth straight win – 13-5 over Cape Elizabeth.
Powers’ surge gave the Clippers the lead for good, and Annie Bergeron and Annie Lowenstein each scored three goals as well, helping Yarmouth pull away in the second half.
“I love my team so much,” said Powers. “I get so much support and we have so much fun.”
The Capers, who beat Yarmouth in overtime in the 2018 and 2019 Class B state final, took an early lead on a Susie Graham goal, but Powers tied it after a nice move around a defender. Then she put Yarmouth (9-1) on top for good with 15:08 left in the first half, firing a high shot past goalie Cammy Woods. Just 56 seconds later, she converted a free position for a 3-1 advantage.
“(Aine) has brought an intense passion for lacrosse,” Lowenstein said. “She plays such a big role. We love playing with her.”
“Aine is unique in the fact that she has so much poise in pressure situations,” added Yarmouth Coach Dorothy Holt. “The more the pressure, the higher she rises. You’d never know she’s a freshman, and she has an amazing supporting cast that gives her confidence.”
After Lowenstein and Greta Frankwicz traded goals, Bergeron scored for the first time and Anna Thornton added a goal on a free position to make it 6-2.
The Capers cut into their deficit when Graham scored twice in just over a minute, but Powers set up Bergeron for goal that sent Yarmouth into the halftime break with a 7-4 lead.
Katelyn D’Appolonia (two goals, three assists) won the second-half draw, raced in and set up a goal by Emma Moll. Lowenstein and D’Appolonia then broke it open, as each scored twice.
Graham scored her fourth goal to momentarily stem the tide, but Bergeron finished once more for Yarmouth.
Yarmouth goalie Juliet Meas finished with six saves.
“We’ve really grown as a team,” said Powers. “Seeing how our attack and our defense talk to each other and how it all flows is just amazing.”
Cape Elizabeth (2-8) got six saves apiece from Woods and Elise Branch.
The Capers still believe they’ll be a factor when the playoffs begin, despite their record.
“The score may not show it, but we’ve come so far with team energy, team chemistry, the support we have for each other,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Alex Spark.
“We’ll need all 26 girls to come together and push and support each other in the playoffs. It will take a total team effort.”
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