CUMBERLAND — Greely’s boys’ lacrosse team made school history Wednesday, earning a spot in the Class B state championship game for the first time with a 16-11 semifinal win over Messalonskee.
The top-seeded Rangers (11-3) just missed the playoffs last season, but now they’re on the verge of a breakthrough title.
“We came in with some expectations. Last year we played one of the toughest schedules in Class B, and that’s how we want it,” said senior defender and co-captain Andrew Eckhardt, whose team improved from four wins in 2017.
Greely will face Brunswick on Saturday at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.
No. 4 Messalonskee ends the season at 8-6.
The Rangers never trailed and were firmly in control after scoring five straight goals in the first quarter and first minute of the second. Schuyler Wetmore, a sophomore, scored three of his game-high six goals in the first quarter, helping Greely take a 5-1 lead. Wetmore’s fourth goal, a behind the back shot over his right shoulder, made it 6-1 just 39 seconds into the second quarter.
After the early dominance by Greely, the teams played evenly the remainder of the game. For Messalonskee, the deficit was too much to overcome, and was reminiscent of the Eagles’ 18-8 loss to Greely in the regular season.
“They got the jump on us the last time we played them, too. They were all over us in the first quarter,” Messalonskee Coach Tom Sheridan said. “I think it’s just intensity, coming in ready to play. Our kids came out a little flat defensively early.”
“We come, and we have a goal in the first quarter to put it away, to set the tempo, and that’s what we do,” Eckhardt said. “We knew that they have an offense, (and) if they get going (they) are pretty dangerous.”
Ben Kennedy added four goals for Greely, while Andrew Lawrence scored three times. Sawyer Gagnon made eight saves for the Rangers and came up big in the third quarter, helping hold the Eagles scoreless as Greely killed five penalties.
Down 12-6 going into the fourth quarter, Messalonskee finally took advantage of the power play when Austin Pelletier scored six seconds into the quarter. But Greely was able to maintain a comfortable lead.
“Offensively, we just didn’t get the possession enough. We’re used to getting a lot more possessions than we did,” Sheridan said.
Pelletier scored four goals for the Eagles and Colin Kinney added three. CJ Reardon made 13 saves.
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