YARMOUTH — Yarmouth’s girls’ lacrosse team was getting a much-tougher-than-expected test from visiting Cape Elizabeth in a Class A state preliminary round game Wednesday evening, but as longtime Clippers Coach Dorothy Holt says of her team, “We’re young, but we’re mighty.”
And third-seeded Yarmouth came of age at just the right time, scoring six straight goals late in the first half, then going on to a 14-10 victory to improve to 11-4 and set up a quarterfinal showdown at home Saturday, at a time to be announced, versus No. 11 Gorham.
“It was our first playoff game and we were nervous, but we did a really good job,” Holt said. “We did all the right things.”
Lauren Keaney scored six goals for the Clippers, and Aine Powers added four goals and three assists while also dominating in the draw circle.
“Once we started passing the ball around, working as a team and building our confidence, we started to make some good plays,” said Powers.
The 14th-seeded Capers (4-11), who lost twice to Yarmouth this year by a combined 21 goals and closed the regular season on a six-game losing streak, came out confident and intense. Behind a pair of goals from Moira Concannon and another from Kaity Woods, the Capers built a quick 3-1 advantage.
“We’ve been focusing so much this season on just taking care of the ball and eliminating our self-inflicted wounds, because when we take those away, we’re a really strong team,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Alex Spark. “I’m so proud.”
The Clippers then came to life, as two goals apiece from Keaney and Powers put Yarmouth on top before the Capers tied it 6-6 on a third goal from Concannon.
Yarmouth then scored six goals in six minutes to close the first half, capped by final-minute tallies from Keaney and Neena Panozzo, to make it 12-6 at the break.
“I think (Cape) started really strong and kind of caught us off guard, but we were able to come back,” said Keaney.
Goals from Heather Campbell and Phoebe Altenburg pulled the Capers within four early in the second half. After Powers and Keaney answered, Campbell DeGeorge and Libby Hooper scored to cut the Clippers’ lead to 14-10 with 6:27 still to play.
But Yarmouth would slam the door behind its defense and freshman goalie Grace Keaney (three saves), and live to play another day.
“We’ll prepare (for Gorham) and do our thing,” said Holt. “We just have to keep working together and that will get us there.”
Cape Elizabeth was paced by Campbell’s two goals and six assists. DeGeorge also scored twice and Zoe Burgard stopped eight shots.
The Capers, with no seniors on their roster, will use Wednesday’s effort for motivation heading into the offseason.
“I can’t wait for (next) spring,” said Spark. “It will be so great to have this whole entire group of really talented players back. They’ll be a year older and a year more experienced.”
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