Greely’s Lauren Dennen manages to hold on to the ball after Messalonskee’s Nealey Dillon tries to knock it free during a Class B semifinal in Cumberland on Tuesday. Greely won, 16-6. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer
GIRLS
Who: Brunswick (14-2) vs. Greely (14-2)
When: 5 p.m. Friday
Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
Outlook: Greely is looking to repeat as state champion. Brunswick is back in the state final for the first time since 2012, when it was the Class A runner-up. Brunswick’s last state title came in 2009. … Neither team has lost to a Class B opponent this season. Greely lost to Class A powers Kennebunk and Falmouth, while Brunswick fell to Freeport, a state finalist in Class C, and Class A Cheverus. … Greely has been strong at both ends of the field, allowing fewer than 10 goals in 14 of 16 games. In two playoff wins, the Rangers have outscored their opponents 30-8. Senior captain Charlotte Taylor leads Greely with 56 goals and 30 assists, along with 67 draws won. Asja Kelman (41 goals), a junior, and Lauren Dennen (32 goals), a senior, are also scoring threats. … Brunswick pulled out a pair of close playoff wins, 9-8 over York and 12-7 over Cony, to advance to the championship game. Senior captain Ella Gustafson leads Brunswick’s defense with 30 turnovers caused, including 20 interceptions, and has more than 100 ground balls recovered. Alexa Scott, a junior, has 12 turnovers forced, two interceptions, and 40 draw controls. Elizabeth Putnam, a junior, leads the offense with 53 goals, while Kelsie Carlton has 24 goals and 26 assists. … Both teams are strong in net. Greely’s Addyson Babcock has a .560 save percentage and allows just over five goals per game. Brunswick’s Maddi Barnhorst has 137 saves and a .600 save percentage.
York’s Quinn Walenta, top, celebrates after scoring against Yarmouth in a Class B semifinal on Tuesday, with an assist from defenseman Chris Connors, bottom. Walenta also had two assists in York’s 9-3 victory. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
BOYS
Who: Messalonskee (12-4) vs. York (14-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
Outlook: While both Messalonskee and York are traditionally contenders, neither had reached the state championship game until this season. Messalonskee has nine wins in its last 10 games, while the Wildcats have won six of their last seven. … York is a young team, with just three seniors. Six players scored in a 9-3 semifinal win over Yarmouth. Sophomore midfielder Evan Anastas (44 goals, 25 assists) and junior attack Nick Hoy (40 goals, 35 assists) are the Wildcats’ top scorers. Quinn Walenta (25 goals, 37 assists), Kevin Burke (11 goals, 15 assists) and Haydn Forbes (10 goals, 10 assists) are also scoring threats. … A York defense led by Laird Masterson and Wyatt Horning will be tested by a Messalonskee offense that boasts three 40 goal scorers: junior Brady Brunelle (49 goals, 22 assists), senior Will Durkee (46 goals, 26 assists) and senior Walter Fegel (45 goals, 14 assists). Cooper LeClair, a junior, is right on their heels with 39 goals after scoring six in an 18-8 semifinal win over defending state champion Brunswick. … A key for Messalonskee will be draw controls, which senior Bryce Crowell has won 92% of the time. If Crowell can continue that faceoff dominance, the Eagles can put York on its heels early. Messalonskee has scored 34 goals combined in its two playoff games. … Evan Giacobba, a junior, will be in goal for York and has allowed just seven goals in two playoff wins. Hunter Hallee took over in net for Messalonskee when Troy Hachey was injured and has been strong down the stretch.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
