YARMOUTH—For a year, Kate Bosworth stewed about her and her team’s performance in last year’s Class B state final.

Friday evening, Bosworth and her teammates redeemed themselves.

In a pivotal late-season showdown, Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ lacrosse team put forth a strong effort up and down the field, but it was the play of Bosworth, the senior goalie, that made the difference as the Capers downed defending champion and host Yarmouth.

Early in the game, before Cape Elizabeth got its offense going, Bosworth made sure the Clippers didn’t open up a healthy lead.

Then, after the Capers scored four times in 3 minutes, 20 seconds to go in front to stay, Bosworth made sure Yarmouth never caught up.

The Clippers did make things interesting down the stretch of their Senior Night, drawing within 10-8 when senior standout Shannon Fallon scored unassisted with 1:23 to play, but Cape Elizabeth slammed the door from there and got out of town with a key victory.

Bosworth made a dozen saves, sophomore Mariah Deschino paced a balanced offense with three goals and the Capers improved to 7-3, ending Yarmouth’s five-game win streak and dropping the Clippers to 6-4 in the process.

“I had kind of an awkward huddle at the beginning when I had everyone come in and I said, ‘I know some of you weren’t here last year, but they killed us in the state game,'” Bosworth said. “It was definitely on my mind. They scored 13 goals on me last year. I was totally fired up. We came out and got them back.”

Memories

Last June 21, Yarmouth raced to leads of 4-0, 9-3 at halftime and 12-3 early in the second half before holding on for dear life to beat Cape Elizabeth to win the Class B state title, 13-10. The Capers got a state game-record eight goals from Abby McInerney, but the Clippers, paced by six from Grace O’Donnell, held on (McInerney and O’Donnell now play together at Trinity College for a team which made it to the Division III championship game).

This season, both teams have stumbled at times, but they have shown signs of greatness.

The Capers handled visiting Freeport, 12-6, to start the year, then lost at York, 10-5. After completing a suspended game with a 6-5 home victory over Greely in triple overtime, Cape Elizabeth rallied to stun host Falmouth, 7-6, and downed visiting Gorham, 13-8, then lost at Kennebunk, 15-6, and at home to Waynflete (10-4) before responding with lopsided wins at Fryeburg Academy (18-7) and at home over Wells (14-4). 

The Clippers lost at home to Falmouth in the opener, 14-9, then, after a two-week break, fell at York, 8-6. Yarmouth righted the ship with an emphatic 16-3 win at Freeport, but a 10-7 home loss to Kennebunk followed. The Clippers began a win streak with a 14-2 romp at Fryeburg Academy, then turned the corner with home victories over contenders Scarborough (15-12) and Lake Region (19-8) before coming from behind to down visiting Greely (11-10) and rallying past host Waynflete Tuesday, 8-6.

Heading into play Friday, Yarmouth had beaten Cape Elizabeth in 14 of the past 16 encounters, but the last time the teams squared off in Yarmouth, the Capers prevailed, 14-12, in 2013.

This time, on a foggy late afternoon, after seniors from both teams were honored, Cape Elizabeth made an impressive statement.

The Clippers struck first when Fallon scored for the first time with 21:02 to play in the first half.

The Capers needed nearly nine minutes to score, but with 16:06 left, senior Kirsten Rudberg beat Yarmouth sophomore goalie Mary Kate Gunville unassisted to make it 1-1.

After Fallon put the Clippers back on top, for what proved to be the final time, 2-1, with an unassisted goal 21 seconds later, Cape Elizabeth’s offense hit its stride late in the half.

With 8:18 to play before halftime, freshman Chloe Chapin scored on a free position to tie the score.

Then, 28 seconds later, Deschino finished unassisted and the Capers had the lead for good.

With 5:57 to play in the half, senior Taylor Herrera had a shot saved by Gunville, but Herrera got her own rebound and finished to make it 4-2.

After Bosworth denied Yarmouth senior Emma Torres, Deschino got the ball, raced into the offensive zone as only she can, then set up senior Lindsay Stewart for a three-goal lead.

“In previous games, we haven’t had a lot of composure and we haven’t been able to keep possession on offense, so we’ve been really focusing on keeping the ball and making good passes,” said Stewart.

Clippers coach Dorothy Holt called timeout, but Bosworth robbed Yarmouth senior Lane Simsarian in front to preserve the lead.

After a turnover, Torres scored unassisted to end a 13 minute, 55 second scoring drought with 1:52 to go, but 27 seconds later, Stewart set up senior Emma Landes, who finished for a 6-3 lead.

Bosworth denied a free position from Clippers senior Caitlin Teare in the waning seconds and the Capers had a comfortable, but not safe lead at the break.

Bosworth’s eight first half saves were the difference, as the teams were almost identical in most statistical categories.

Instead of sitting on its advantage, Cape Elizabeth opened it up early in the second half.

First, Deschino eluded a defender with a nice spin move before finishing unassisted with 23:34 to play to make it 7-3.

A little over a minute later, Stewart scored unassisted for a five-goal lead.

With 17:03 left, Herrera appeared to score on a free position to essentially put the game away, but the goal was waved off as she was ruled to be playing with an illegal stick.

That energized Yarmouth, as junior Lilly Watson scored on a free position with 12:10 to go, on the Clippers’ first shot of the half, but the Capers got the goal back 41 seconds later as Rudberg weaved through the defense, then beat Gunville to make it 9-4.

Yarmouth tried desperately to rally, as Torres converted a free position with 9:54 remaining and 52 seconds later, Simsarian set up Fallon for a goal, but after a Clippers’ turnover, with 6:52 to go, Deschino scored a momentum-turning dagger of a goal for a 10-6 lead.

Then, Bosworth took center stage, denying Watson on a free position, stymieing Fallon and stopping Watson again.

Finally, with 2:33 to play, Fallon set up Simsarian for a goal and when Fallon scored unassisted a minute later, things got interesting, but after Fallon was just wide on a bid which could have made it a one-goal game, Yarmouth turned the ball over, Bosworth pounced on the ball and the Capers were able to run out the clock on their 10-8 victory.

“It speaks well for our teamwork and ability to persevere that we don’t get down ourselves when teams start to come back,” Stewart said.

“We’ve been in the position before where teams tried to come back,” Bosworth said. “We kept our composure and we held them off.”

“It was a nice win,” added Cape Elizabeth first-year coach Alex Spark. “It was a fantastic game on both ends. It was nice to see us come out on top. Kate kept us in there until we got our bearings, then our attack, middies and D came together. Everyone did their part and it really felt like a team win. The end was nervewracking, but we got the ball when it mattered.

“The girls told me how they felt embarrassed last year. They came out ready to prove that they were the better team. Yarmouth’s a great program. To play the way we did today says a lot about our composure and mental strength.”

Deschino led the Capers with there goals. Rudberg and Stewart both had two, while Chapin, Herrera and Landes added one apiece. Deschino and Stewart had one assist apiece. Deschino also had a team-high seven ground balls.

Bosworth sparkled with a dozen saves.

“I love this foggy weather,” Bosworth said. “A lot of things clicked today. I didn’t get nervous.”

“We know (Kate’s) the best goalie in the state,” Stewart said. “She makes us so confident. She’s amazing. It’s not good when we go up against her in practice. We know how tough she is.”

For Yarmouth, Fallon had four goals, while Torres finished with two and Simsarian and Watson each added one. Fallon and Simsarian had one assist apiece. Torres had a team-high seven ground balls, as the Clippers enjoyed a 34-31 advantage. Gunville made nine saves.

Yarmouth had a 22-19 shots advantage (20-19 on cage).

Draws wound up 10-10 and each team committed 18 turnovers.

“Cape wanted it,” said Holt. “We couldn’t handle the pressure. We showed our stuff at the end of the game, but we’re not bringing it at the beginning. This group is young is certain places and the seniors feel the pressure. We just have to jell a little bit more. All of our games will be close. Understanding and handling pressure is two different things. You can’t have 12 turnovers in the first half and think you’ll win against a good team. Bosworth made key saves. We couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

Several of Yarmouth’s younger players stood out Friday.

“(Sophomore) Ella (Antolini) stepped in and won draws and (sophomore) Cory (Langenbach), Eliza (Lunt) and Gretchen (Barbera), they’re all playing well,” Holt said.

Almost June

The teams could meet again in the Class B Final June 20, but both have a lot of work to do first.

Yarmouth (second to Oceanside in the Eastern Class B Heal Points standings) is at Brunswick Monday, then closes at North Yarmouth Academy Thursday.

The Clippers might not finish first in their region, but they just want to be playing their best when the postseason rolls around.

“We hope to finish strong and jell,” Holt said. “We’ll have to work. It isn’t easy.”

Cape Elizabeth (fourth in Western B) goes to Western A contender Marshwood Saturday and finishes the regular season at home versus Falmouth Wednesday, in a game that will be rife with Heal Points implications.

“We’re working on keeping our composure,” said Stewart. “We have to stay strong.”

“I feel like our toughest games are coming at the end and I think we’ll be fine,” Bosworth said. “We really really want it now.”

“I like to think we’re stepping up when it matters most,” Spark added. “Now’s the time to turn it on. If we come out and play as a team like we did today, we’ll be fine. That’s what we’re looking to do the rest of the season.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Yarmouth senior Emma Torres fires a shot past Cape Elizabeth senior goalie Kate Bosworth. Bosworth made 12 saves  to help the Capers to victory.

Yarmouth senior Lane Simsarian soars for a shot.

Cape Elizabeth senior Rhoen Fiutak defends Yarmouth sophomore Eliza Lunt.

Cape Elizabeth senior Taylor Herrera is sandwiched by Yarmouth junior Lauren Bartlett (left) and sophomore Cory Langenbach.

Cape Elizabeth sophomore Mariah Deschino plays keep-away from Yarmouth sophomore Cory Langenbach.

Cape Elizabeth’s girls’ lacrosse team celebrates at the end of its 10-8 win.

Recent Yarmouth-Cape Elizabeth results

2014
Yarmouth 11 @ Cape Elizabeth 10 
Class B State Final
Yarmouth 13 Cape Elizabeth 10 

2013
Yarmouth 8 @ Cape Elizabeth 7 
Cape Elizabeth 14 @ Yarmouth 12

2012
@ Cape Elizabeth 14 Yarmouth 6

2011
Yarmouth 16 @ Cape Elizabeth 6

2010
@ Yarmouth 18 Cape Elizabeth 8

2009
Yarmouth 12 @ Cape Elizabeth 10

2008
Yarmouth 7 @ Cape Elizabeth 5
@ Yarmouth 13 Cape Elizabeth 7

2007
Yarmouth 12 @ Cape Elizabeth 6

2006
@ Yarmouth 13 Cape Elizabeth 3

2005
Yarmouth 14 @ Cape Elizabeth 10

2004
@ Yarmouth 13 Cape Elizabeth 7

2003
Yarmouth 13 @ Cape Elizabeth 10
@ Yarmouth 17 Cape Elizabeth 8

Sidebar Elements

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Yarmouth senior Emma Torres is shadowed by Cape Elizabeth sophomore Mariah Deschino during the teams’ state final rematch Friday evening. Deschino scored three times to help the Capers avenge last year’s loss, 10-8.

Jason Veilleux photos.

More photos below.

BOX SCORE

Cape Elizabeth 10 Yarmouth 8

CE- 6 4- 10
Y- 3 5- 8

First half
21:02 Y Fallon (unassisted)
16:06 CE K. Rudberg (unassisted)
15:47 Y Fallon (unassisted)
8:18 CE Chapin (free position)
7:50 CE Deschino (unassisted)
5:57 CE Herrera (unassisted)
4:58 CE Stewart (Deschino)
1:52 Y Torres (unassisted)
1:25 CE Landes (Stewart)

Second half
23:39 CE Deschino (unassisted)
21:29 CE Stewart (unassisted)
12:10 Y Watson (free position)
11:29 CE K. Rudberg (unassisted)
9:54 Y Torres (free position)
9:02 Y Fallon (Simsarian)
6:52 CE Deschino (unassisted)
2:33 Y Simsarian (Fallon)
1:23 Y Fallon (unassisted)

Goals:
CE- Deschino 3, K. Rudberg, Stewart 2, Chapin, Herrera, Landes 1
Y- Fallon 4, Torres 2, Simsarian, Watson 1

Assists:
CE- Deschino, Stewart 1
Y- Fallon, Simsarian 1

Draws (10-10)
CE- Deschino 6 of 11, K. Rudberg 4 of 9
Y- Antolini 6 of 9, Simsarian 1 of 6, Torres 3 of 5

Ground balls (Yarmouth, 34-31)
CE- Deschino 7, Dell’Aquila, Landes, K. Rudberg, M. Rudberg, Stewart 3, Lavallee, Lennon 2, H. Bosworth, K. Bosworth, Fiutak, Graham, Herrera 1
Y- Torres 7, Bartlett, Langenbach, Myers, Watson 4, Antolini, Simsarian 3, Coyne, Fallon, Gunville, Lunt, Teare 1

Turnovers:
CE- 18
Y- 18

Shots:
CE- 19
Y- 22

Shots on cage:
CE- 19
Y- 20

Saves:
CE (Bosworth) 12
Y (Gunville) 9