PORTLAND—When the Greely girls’ lacrosse team’s senior class entered high school four years ago, the Rangers were known as a competitive program that couldn’t quite get over the hump and win a championship.

Now, the Rangers are elite.

With almost no peer.

Friday evening at Fitzpatrick Stadium, top-ranked Greely quickly and emphatically ended the upset hopes of second-seeded Brunswick, capping a season for the ages with a jaw-dropping team performance.

Just 35 seconds in, junior Asja Kelman scored to put the Rangers on top to stay, but lightning was observed in the area and by rule, play was halted for 30 minutes.

After the delay, Greely picked right up where it left off, as senior standout Charlotte Taylor, sophomore Kylie Lord, senior star Lauren Dennen and Kelman all struck for a 5-0 advantage less than 11 minutes in.

The Dragons, making their first state game appearance in 11 years, made things interesting when junior Emily Wallace and senior Kelsie Carlton sandwiched goals around a strike from Dennen, but the Rangers closed the first half strong with late goals from Kelman and sophomore Jane Flynn to make it 8-2 at the break.

Greely then emphatically ended any lingering doubt in the second half, getting an early goal from Dennen, two straight from senior Allie Read, then single tallies from Kelman, senior Jenny Medrano and freshman Audrey Ingersoll produced a 14-2 victory.

The Rangers got goals from eight different players, led by Kelman, who had four, and Dennen, who scored three, as they finished the year 15-2, ended Brunswick’s season at 14-3 and captured their second consecutive championship and the third in program history, staking their undeniable claim as the finest Greely team to ever take the field.

“It’s the best Greely team I’ve seen come through,” said Rangers coach Becca Koelker, who, as Becca Lambertson, played for the program at the turn of the century. “To have the accomplishments we had during the season and to win here, it’s clear that the program is at the pinnacle. The highest it’s ever been. Some of the records the girls have set with only three seasons under their belt is incredible.”

Nothing stopping them

From 2001 through 2020, Greely had a lot of strong teams, but never could break through and reach the final day of the season.

That drought finally ended two years ago, but the Rangers fell short on the big stage to a powerhouse Yarmouth squad.

Last year, however, nothing could stop Greely and it won the program’s first title in the Maine Principals’ Association-sanctioned era, 13-7, over York (see sidebar for previous state game results).

This spring, with almost everyone back, the Rangers were the clear favorite in Class B and didn’t disappoint (see sidebar for links to previous stories), winning 12 of 14 games (by an average of eight goals per game), while losing only to two-time reigning Class A champion Kennebunk and a very talented Falmouth squad (by just one goal).

Greely rolled past No. 8 Mt. Blue (15-2) in the state quarterfinals, then sent No. 5 Messalonskee packing in the semifinals (16-6).

Brunswick, meanwhile, won its first six games, lost at Class C top seed Freeport, then won three more before suffering a one-goal loss to Cheverus (a Class A school). The Dragons closed with wins at Camden Hills and Bangor and at home over Maranacook.

Brunswick’s playoff run began with a narrow 9-8 quarterfinal round win over No. 7 York. In Tuesday’s state semifinals, the Dragons beat No. 3 Cony, 12-7, to advance.

Brunswick was once a state game regular under Beth Caputi, playing on the big stage seven previous times, but despite being competitive most seasons, the Dragons had spent 11 years away from the state final.

The teams had met just once before in the playoffs, an 11-2 Greely win two years ago in the state quarterfinals.

Friday, under warm (70 degrees) and overcast skies (at least at the start), after Greely senior Daphne Campo set the tone with a rousing rendition of the national anthem, Brunswick sought its first championship since 2009 and it’s third all-time, but it would be the Rangers completing a season for the ages with one final statement victory.

Taylor won the opening draw, passed ahead to Kelman and Kelman was awarded a free position shot.

With the game just 35 seconds in, Kelman sent the ball past Dragons junior goalie Maddi Barnhorst and Greely was ahead to stay.

“It wasn’t the play originally, but it just worked out that way,” said Kelman, who also scored the opening goal in last year’s state game. “We’re always looking for each other. Teamwork is a big part of our team. (That first shot) was definitely nerve-wracking, but I knew I had the team to back me up.”

The goal was so impactful that it brought lightning and thunder in its wake and by rule, the contest was delayed 30 minutes and the teams were sent to their respective buses.

The Rangers had no trouble passing the time.

“We just had to rely on each other to keep the energy up,” Dennen said. “We played some music, talked about game strategies and got right back at it.”

“That was different,” Koelker said. “There was some strategizing in the back of the bus, then the girls hung out, sang songs. They knew what they needed to do.”

After a 38-minute delay, including a short warm-up period, play resumed and it took Greely only 40 seconds to double its lead, as Taylor took a pass from Lord and finished.

“We’re a team that rolls with anything,” said Taylor. “Whether it’s the wet field last game, or rain and lightning this game. I’m so proud of us for pushing through. I don’t think anyone really knew what to expect coming in. That was a mental battle for us, knowing what to focus on. I think we relied on the coaches to tell us what to expect.”

The goals kept coming, as Dennen set up Lord with 23:24 to go in the first half, Taylor fed Dennen, who made a nice catch before shooting and scoring with 17:06 on the clock, then, after Brunswick’s first shot, from junior Kiki Dinsmore, was saved by Rangers senior goalie Addyson Babcock, Membrano set up Kelman for a 5-0 lead with 14:11 remaining.

The Dragons then settled in and after sophomore Kyra Fortier and senior Hannah Lay missed wide, Wallace broke the ice (from Carlton) with 7:34 left.

Babcock denied Lay on a free position, then Dennen took a feed from Taylor and scored while falling to the turf with 4:38 to go.

Brunswick cut the deficit to 6-2 with 3:14 on the clock, as Carlton beat Babcock with a free position, but Greely finished the half strong to open its biggest lead.

First, with 1:19 remaining, Dennen set up Kelman for a goal,

Then, after Lay was sent off for two minutes for a dangerous shot, Taylor fed Flynn for a goal with just 13.8 seconds to go and Greely took an 8-2 advantage to the break.

“It was difficult to see the gap get wider and wider,” said Dragons coach Emaleigh Aschbrenner.

In the first half, Taylor won seven of 11 draws, the Rangers forced 13 turnovers and had a 10-4 shots advantage.

Greely quickly extinguished any lingering doubt when the second half commenced.

Just 68 seconds in, Dennen scored unassisted.

“Those goals at the end of the half were huge, then scoring at the start of second half gave us the push we needed,” Koelker said. “It could have gone the other way if we hadn’t gotten those.”

With 21:12 remaining, Read scored her first goal, unassisted.

With 19:31 on the clock, Read scored again, this time from Taylor, and the lead was 11-2.

For Read, who normally spends the majority of her time as an elite defender, getting involved in the offense was a thrill.

“It’s really fun to score,” Read said. “I was a true defender when I came into the program. The transition to midfield was hard, but I was supported by my teammates and it worked out.”

“Allie had a specific and unorthodox role in that we asked her to play middie and backer and that takes a lot of energy,” said Koelker. “She gives it to us game after game. She’s really incredible.”

After Babcock saved a free position shot from Carlton, Kelman scored on a free position with 16:50 remaining, inducing a 10-goal, mercy rule running clock.

Membrano got in on the scoring fun with an unassisted goal with 14:05 left.

After Babcock saved shots from Wallace and junior Elizabeth Putnam, Ingersoll scored the final goal with 4:11 remaining, from Read.

Babcock made one final save, on a shot from Wallace, then Greely ran out the clock and at 7 p.m., spilled on to the field to celebrate its 14-2 victory and another championship.

“We knew we’d be back,” Dennen said. “That was the mindset. It’s amazing. The perfect way to go out. Even though I’ve graduated, it doesn’t feel like I’ve left high school. This is the perfect send off.”

“It means a lot,” said Read. “We’ve been working really hard for this the past three years. To get it senior season is an awesome way to go out. We take a lot of pride. We tried to get better every day. Our motto is, ‘one percent better’ and with that mentality, we kept getting better and better.”

“From day one, everyone knew we’d be here, which is a different feeling than any of our other teams have had,” Taylor said. “It feels really good to reach our end goal. It’s a cool feeling to be the team that everyone knows they have to elevate play for. I’m so proud of us. I think our grade left the program better than we found it. That’s a really good feeling as a senior.”

“From the very beginning, this is what the girls had their sights on,” Koelker added. “Playing such a tough schedule, there was pressure to perform at a top level. We had two great Yarmouth games and a great Falmouth game and we felt like we’d come into our own.

“It makes a huge difference to have experience coming into this game when there’s so many nerves. The girls knew what to expect and right from the start, we had momentum. I have to give a shout-out my coaching staff. They are the reason we’re here. They’ve figured out the roles everyone needed to play.”

The Rangers’ attack was paced by Kelman, who scored four times.

“I’m glad she’s coming back,” Koelker said. “She gets so pumped for these games. She loves this stage.”

Dennen added three goals and two assists, a year after scoring four times in the state final.

“I think it’s just the energy here,” said Dennen, who plans to play Club lacrosse next year at the University of Vermont. “I get super-nervous the day of the game, but when I get on the field, I have trust in my teammates and they have trust in me, so I’m confident.”

“Lauren has great state games,” Koelker said. “She had goals and assists tonight.”

Read, who will attend Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York next year, scored twice and added an assist.

Flynn, Ingersoll, Lord and Medrano each had one goal and then there was Taylor, one of the finest players in program history, who scored a goal, assisted on three others, won 12 of 17 draw opportunities and scooped up ground balls and forced turnovers in a tour de force performance.

“We have so many scorers and that’s what makes us dangerous,” said Taylor, who plans to play next year at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. “You can’t just shut one of us down, which makes us tough to face-guard.”

“Charlotte does so much for us,” Koelker said. “She’s so unselfish. She doesn’t need to score goals. She’ll impact the game no matter what. I’ve never coached that kind of player. She’s special.”

Lord and Medrano also had assists.

“You can’t shut down one person, because we have other scorers,” Koelker said. “That’s intentional because all season we’ve tried to get everyone involved. That’s just how the attack runs.”

Babcock made seven saves.

Greely finished with a 12-6 advantage in the draw circle, collected 45 ground balls to Brunswick’s 26 (Taylor led the way with 10, while Read scooped up seven and Kelman had five), out-shot the Dragons, 22-12 (19-9 on cage) and overcame 20 turnovers.

Back to prominence

For Brunswick, Carlton had a goal and an assist and Wallace also scored.

Barnhorst made five saves.

Putnam had a team-high five ground balls.

The Dragons turned the ball over 26 times and never could recover from Greely’s early surge.

“I’m so proud of the girls,” Aschbrenner said. “They never stopped fighting. They continued to push. They never stopped playing with their hearts. (Greely) just has a lot of offseason touches, I think. They play as a whole group. We’re slowly starting to get there.

“Finishing with 12 wins, which was the most we’ve had in the regular season, and getting past semifinals was incredible. Each year, we’ve gone a little further and this year, the girls really did it. The last time we were here, I was a little freshman goalie standing on the sidelines. It was incredible to be back here and we’ll definitely be back again.”

Graduation will take some talented players, but Brunswick is poised to be a threat again in 2024.

“I’m losing eight seniors, but I have 10 or 11 juniors and eight to 10 sophomores,” Aschbrenner said. “Those girls have played in the offseason and played together since third or fourth grade.”

New look, same goal

Unlike a year ago, when one player, Carley Ferentz, graduated in the aftermath of the championship, this time around, the Rangers have to say goodbye to Babcock, Campo, Dennen, Medrano, Read, Taylor, Rachel Goldburg, Cady Hatch and Elise Provencher.

“It’s going to be really hard to say goodbye to the seniors,” Kelman said. “They held the team together. We have great connections with each other. Teams are supposed to be like families, but there’s something really special about this one.”

The cupboard is far from bare, however, and with Flynn, Kelman and Lord back to spark the offense and junior Eva Williams, who sat out this spring with a knee injury, back in the fold, next year’s team will have a similar, realistic goal.

Bringing home more hardware.

“I’ll come back next year and hope to watch my teammates win again,” Taylor said.

“We just need to keep working,” said Kelman. “We can’t let up at all. We’ll use the memories we have to push us to win again.”

“A lot of the juniors have been here the past two years, so we have the experience we can build on,” Koelker added. “It’ll be a different looking season next year. We’ll have to adjust, but I’m excited about what we have.”

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

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