KENNEBUNK — Every season, no matter the sport, there will be games where the local media and fans will hype up the showdown between two great teams.
That was certainly the case when it came to the No. 1 Kennebunk Rams and No. 2 Massabesic Mustangs during the 2018 girls lacrosse season — and both times they met, the two squads would live up to that hype.
The first time around it would be the Rams getting the victory in a one-goal, regular-season contest, but when a trip to the state championship game was on the line it was the defending Class A champion Mustangs who got the job done.
Massabesic used an excellent performance from goalie Lydia Wasina and a balanced offensive attack to pick up a hard-fought 10-9 win over the Rams in the Class A South regional final on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s really exciting. I’m really happy to be (going to the state final) with all my teammates. I love them all so much so it will be great to have one last run with them,” said Wasina on reaching the state title game for the third straight season.
Wasina played a huge role in the Mustangs win as she stopped eight shots — including six on free-position attempts from a dangerous Kennebunk offense.
“Lyd’s a gamer, you know, the bigger the game, the bigger she plays,” said Massabesic coach Brooks Bowen.
Wasina was honest when asked about her mindset going into a free-position attempt.
“Yikes … I think I need to save those,” said Wasina on what she was thinking before those free-position plays. “Sometimes they seem a little bit easier because I have more time to think, but I can’t do what I do without my defense and the whole team. Everybody plays D, everybody gets back.”
The Mustangs would get goals from five different players on Wednesday, including three apiece from Skylar Renaud and Morgan Pike.
Renaud was happy to contribute to the big win, but was quick to deflect the praise to the entire team.
“It was pretty big, but it was a team effort and everybody contributed to the win. It wasn’t just me,” Renaud said.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes on goals from Hallie Benton and Renaud, but Kennebunk came right back with a score from Erin Gorton at the 20:06 mark to make it 2-1.

Logan Champlin pushed the Massabesic lead to 3-1 with a goal at 18:28, but Gorton scored just under a minute later to make it a one-goal game once again.
The back-and-forth play continued throughout the remainder of the opening half. Pike scored at the 16:53 mark to give Massabesic a 4-2 edge, but goals from Liz Kiezulas and Hallie Schwartzman tied things up with 5:43 left in the period.
Pike would give the lead back to Massabesic with another goal with 3:42 left in the half — only to see Schwartzman find the back of the cage with just over two minutes left, which sent the game into halftime tied at 5.
Kennebunk, which had won the last two Class B state titles before moving to Class A this season, would start the second half with two quick goals.
Brie Beaudette scored just over a minute into the period and Gorton found the back of the net one more time just under a minute later to give the Rams a 7-5 lead — which was their first advantage of the contest.
Renaud scored at the 22:18 mark to cut the lead to 7-6 and the Mustangs would tie things up with a goal on a scrum in front of the cage.
The Mustangs took the lead for good when Renaud scored with 18:28 left and Pike gave Massabesic a two-goal advantage with a score at the 16-minute mark.
Beaudette added a goal with 10:05 left to cut the lead to 9-8, but Massabesic standout Madi Drain scored her only goal of the game just over three minutes later to give the Mustangs a two-goal cushion.
Kennebunk freshman Emily Archibald cut the lead to 10-9 with just over four minutes left, but Wasina and the Mustangs’ D were able to hold on from there.
“I think we didn’t play the best game today. They capitalized on the mistakes that we did make. We got so close, but we just couldn’t finish it,” said Kennebunk coach Annie Barker. “(Massabesic) did some things better than we did today and I have to say that. It’s always going to come down to that.”
Barker will say good-bye to one of the most successful groups of players in program history as Schwartzman, Mia Murray, Beaudette and Gorton all graduated from KHS last Sunday.
“They are basically telling everybody to carry on the legacy and keep it going,” said Barker on the seniors’ message to the underclassmen. “They are all going to go off and play at the college level. They will be missed for sure because they are great leaders and really are great people, so we’ll miss them for sure.”
The Mustangs will now get ready for the Class A state championship game on Saturday against Class A North champ Falmouth.
“We’re excited, we’re ready. We’re going to practice these next two days and be ready for Saturday,” said Renaud.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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