Maranacook/Winthrop captain Mya St. Pierre celebrates with her teammates after 19-2 win over Traip Academy in a Class C girls lacrosse semifinal Wednesday at Lewiston High School. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
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LEWISTON — It’s one thing to be undefeated, but another to beat teams by as staggering a margin as Maranacook/Winthrop has this season.
The Black Bears, who have now outscored their opponents 269-75 this spring, continued their dominant state championship defense with a 19-2 win over Traip Academy in the Class C semifinals Wednesday at Lewiston High School.
“We focus on ground balls, riding hard, playing the best defense that we possibly can, and then goals come easy,” said Maranacook/Winthrop coach Zach Stewart said. “And the girls drank the Kool-Aid and they understand that the hard work is what makes the success.”
Top-seeded Maranacook/Winthrop (16-0) will go for a state title repeat when it faces No. 3 North Yarmouth Academy (13-3) in the Class C final Saturday at Deering High School.
“We worked so hard during (the) regular season to get here,” senior Mya St. Pierre said. “(It) just feels very fulfilling and we deserve this, so I’m excited.”
Fourth-seeded Traip Academy won the first draw control of the game, but Maranacook/Winthrop quickly took back possession and scored its first goal 26 seconds into play.
The Black Bears built an 11-0 lead by halftime.
“We knew that it was going to be a tough game since we played them in states last year, so not coming in slow is a big, important part of this,” senior Alice Ferran said. “Coming in strong, right from the beginning, and carrying that through the entire game really helps.”
Ferran scored a game-high five goals and also had an assist, adding to an already impressive postseason tally that includes six goals against Lincoln Academy in the quarterfinals.
St. Pierre scored four goals and freshman Ingrid Stewart had three for Maranacook/Winthrop. Junior Stella Stewart, who scored the game-winner in the final seconds of last year’s state final win over Traip, added two goals and three assists.
“We get along so well as a team, which really shows on the field when we’re able to connect with each other through passing and knowing where each other are going to be,” Ferran said.
The Rangers scored both of their goals in the second half, one in the third quarter from senior Maddy Rohan and one in the fourth by junior Shea Johnson.
“I was proud of these guys for not giving up, not hanging their heads,” Traip Academy coach Norm Wilkinson said. “Maranacook/Winthrop’s great. That’s a great team. Best team I’ve seen in the state of Maine. So we wish them all the best.”
In the state final, the Black Bears will face an NYA team they narrowly defeated 10-9 on May 12.
“We’re ready to take on whatever’s thrown at us, and we’re just ready to be there,” St. Pierre said.
