PORTLAND—Waynflete had to have it.

And the Flyers went out and got it.

It being Thursday afternoon’s must-win girls’ lacrosse home game against Gorham.

Waynflete, which has been competitive throughout the 2023 season, but lacking a signature, Heal Points-rich victory, knew that time was running out if it wanted to continue the program’s run of never missing the playoffs and despite a strong start, the Flyers found themselves down a goal to the Rams with under 18 minutes to play.

And then junior Tilsley Kelly took over.

Kelly scored three times in just over three minutes to put Waynflete ahead to stay and sophomore Lydia Birknes added a pair of late goals as the Flyers went on to a 10-7 victory.

Kelly scored six times, Birknes added four goals and Waynflete’s defense stood tall when it had to as it improved to a misleading 2-7 on the season and in the process, dropped Gorham to 5-4.

“I think we’ve been mixing things up a lot and finding where everyone should be and this win showed us what’s working,” Kelly said. “It all pieced together.”

Much at stake

Waynflete had its chances to win several games this spring, but prior to Thursday hadn’t been able to pull out close contests.

The Flyers opened with a 14-8 home loss to defending Class C champion NYA, then fell at Scarborough in a shootout (14-11), at Wells (7-5) and at Yarmouth (11-5) before getting in the win column at home against Traip Academy (18-3). After a 7-6 loss at Portland, Waynflete fell at home to reigning Class B champion Greely (15-9), then lost at Freeport Monday, 13-7.

Gorham, meanwhile, started with a 15-4 loss to two-time Class A champion Kennebunk, then edged Cape Elizabeth, 9-8. After dropping a 10-6 decision to Marshwood, the Rams downed Scarborough (10-7) and edged Cheverus in overtime (11-10). Gorham then lost to Falmouth (13-6), but bounced back to defeat Bonny Eagle (14-4) and Massabesic (6-3).

The teams didn’t meet a year ago, but did produce a memorable contest in 2021, when visiting Waynflete eked out a 6-5 overtime win on Jesse Connors’ goal. The victory was Cathie Connors’ 299th and she’d reach the 300 plateau the following day.

Thursday, on a sunny but windy and chilly afternoon (56 degrees at the start), the Rams hoped to beat the Flyers for the first time, but Waynflete wouldn’t be denied.

After multiple slow starts this spring, the Flyers came out focused and were immediately rewarded when Kelly won the opening draw and just 39 seconds in, scored unassisted.

Off the ensuing draw, Birknes got in on the fun and with the game a mere 55 seconds old, Waynflete was up by two.

“We’ve been falling behind, then it’s super-hard to catch up,” said Connors. “The first half against Freeport (the other night) was really rough, then they saw they could put it together, so I told them, ‘Now we have to start that way.'”

Birknes then had a chance to extend the lead even more with a free position shot, but Gorham senior goalie Ellie Keil made the save.

The Rams then got on the board with 21:35 to play in the first half, when junior Kaitlyn Nichols fired a free position shot past Flyers senior goalie Pippa Huffard.

At the other end, Kelly set up Birknes for a 3-1 lead, but most of the rest of the first half would be controlled by Gorham, which had long possessions and forced multiple Waynflete turnovers.

After Keil robbed Kelly, Huffard saved a free position shot from Nichols, but with 14:15 remaining, junior Ellie Gay set up classmate Giselle Doucette for a goal which cut the deficit to one.

Fifty-seven seconds later, Kelly eluded a defender and fired the ball into the net, but that would be it for the Flyers’ offense in the first half.

With 7:54 to go, senior Miranda Chasse again pulled the Rams within one with an unassisted goal and after Huffard denied Gay and Doucette, Chasse scored unassisted again with just 1:42 remaining to tie the score.

In the waning seconds, junior Sasha Melnick missed just wide and Keil robbed Kelly and the game went to the break deadlocked, 4-4.

Not only was the score tied, but first half statistics were very even, as each team put eight shots on frame ad both goalies had four saves.

Waynflete then started hot in the second half as well, as with 23:27 to go, Kelly scored on a free position, ending a 14 minute, 51 second scoring drought.

But Gorham would counter and take its only lead of the afternoon.

After Kelly was wide on a free position and senior Keegan Dolan had a shot save by Keil, Gay found Miner for a goal with 18:34 remaining, then 12 seconds later, the same combination struck, as Miner took another Gay pass and sent the ball past Huffard and in for a 6-5 advantage.

The Flyers’ season was at a crossroads and they responded immediately and positively.

After winning possession, Kelly wouldn’t be denied, firing a long shot past Keil to tie the score with 17:50 to go.

“I like to score really far out and hope for the best and sometimes the best happens,” said Kelly. “It’s hit or miss. Today was a hit. I like to psych out the goalie. I practice those shots a lot.”

With 16:34 left, Kelly from Keil’s right, somehow managed to bury a tough angle shot into the far corner and just like that, Waynflete was ahead to stay.

Kelly wasn’t done, however, and with 14:19 remaining, after junior Leah Kramer won possession in the defensive end and the Flyers transitioned the ball up the field, Kelly scored unassisted through traffic to stretch the lead to 8-6.

“Tilsley is amazing,” Connors said. “She’s so humble. She’s scoring goals and working really hard and she’s shooting after practice.”

Gorham coach Meghan Cushing called timeout, but it didn’t stem the tide, as Birknes was awarded a free position shot with 12:56 left and she found the net for an insurance goal.

The Rams refused to fold and with 8:44 to play, the ball came to Gay in front and while she couldn’t catch the pass, she smartly swatted at the loose ball and sent it into the net to make it a 9-7 game.

Waynflete was able to run a couple minutes off the clock, but eventually turned the ball over and Gorham had a chance to make things very interesting, but Birknes intercepted a pass and the Flyers went back on offense.

“For me, playing defense is the most satisfying part,” Birknes said. “We work so hard on defense.”

Then, with 2:04 remaining, Birknes scored on another free position to put Waynflete on the brink.

“Tilsley and I work a lot on free positions in practice with our goalie coach (Laura Bishop),” Birknes said. “I’ve been missing some, so making them today really felt nice.”

“Lydia is super-competitive and feisty,” Connors said. “We had put her on attack, then we realized she needs to be a middie because she can help on defense and in transition.”

After Birknes forced another turnover, the Rams got the ball back, but Nichols hit the post, then junior Zoe Coleman missed wide in the final seconds and when the clock expired, the Flyers were able to celebrate their 10-7 victory.

“It feels amazing,” said Kelly. “We’re just really happy and we really needed it.”

“I think we came out really strong,” Birknes said. “We’ve been a second half team, but this game, we played both halves. I think our defense really came together. Our energy was up. We went after it and really hit a turning point.”

“I’m psyched,” Connors added. “This will help us. I’m super-proud of them. The girls knew this was big for us and that we had to win today to get to playoffs.”

Kelly excelled with six goals and an assist. She also won 12 of 19 draws and had eight ground balls.

Birknes added four goals and a game-high nine ground balls.

Huffard made five timely saves.

Waynflete won the ground ball battle, 36-31, had a 23-15 shots advantage (16-12 on cage) and overcame 14 turnovers.

Gorham got two goals apiece from Chasse and Miner and one each from Doucette, Gay and Nichols.

Gay had three assists.

Keil made six saves.

Chasse and Nichols each scooped up four ground balls.

The Rams committed 17 turnovers.

Nearing the finish line

Gorham (12th in the Class A state-wide Heal Points standings at press time) looks to get back in the win column Saturday at South Portland.

Waynflete, meanwhile, welcomes Lake Region Saturday. The Flyers (who moved up from 10th to seventh in Class C after Thursday’s victory) are at Fryeburg Academy Monday and also welcome Gray-New Gloucester and go to Lake Region next week before closing at home versus York on the final day of the month.

“We just have to be hungry and work hard in practice,” Birknes said. “We were all-in the past two practices after losing to Freeport. We need to keep that intensity.”

“We’re getting confidence,” said Connors. “Now, we hope to string some wins together.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. 

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