SCARBOROUGH—The three-time defending Class A state champion Scarborough girls’ lacrosse team has been done in on multiple occasions this spring by slow starts.

But Tuesday evening at the Kippy Mitchell Athletic Complex, the Red Storm weren’t able to finish strong and as a result, suffered its fourth loss of the season.

Hosting dangerous Marshwood in a rematch of last year’s regional final, Scarborough did fall behind early, 2-0, then rallied to take leads of 3-2 and 4-3, but the Hawks came to life, closing the game on a 6-1 run to hand the Red Storm a 9-5 setback.

Scarborough did get two goals apiece from seniors Maiti Kent and Avery Pietras, but couldn’t solve Marshwood senior goalie Meghan Lewis, who made several critical second half saves, and had no answer for Hawks sophomore Lindsey Poirier, who scored four times and was a force in the draw circle.

With the loss, the Red Storm fell to 6-4, while Marshwood, which snapped an 11-game skid against Scarborough, improved to 7-3.

“We make too many mistakes,” said Scarborough coach Marcia Wood. “We get anxious and don’t take our time. We talk about everyone doing their part. When they don’t, we fall apart.”

Back on track

Scarborough started fast this season with easy wins at McAuley (17-2) and Bonny Eagle (12-3), then let a five-goal second half lead slip away in a stunning 8-7 home loss to Yarmouth. The Red Storm quickly bounced back with a 15-1 home romp over South Portland, then earned an impressive 10-6 win at Massabesic. Frustration then ensued as Scarborough lost at home to Cheverus in overtime, 9-7, and a night later, let a two-goal second half lead slip away in a 10-8 loss at Cape Elizabeth. Last Tuesday, the Red Storm got back on track with an 8-7 come-from-behind home win over Thornton Academy, which gave Wood her 100th victory. Scarborough then earned an impressive 11-6 win at Gorham.

Marshwood wasn’t tested in its first two games, a 16-0 home win over Noble and a 16-3 victory at Westbrook, but let a lead slip away in an 11-10 setback at Falmouth. After prevailing, 14-3, at Sanford, the Hawks lost at home to Massabesic, 7-6, and fell to .500 with a 13-10 loss at Cheverus, but Marshwood entered the game winners of three straight after downing visiting Kennebunk (16-7), host York (11-5) and visiting Gorham (16-6).

The Hawks and Red Storm have met almost annually since the start of the century (see sidebar, below) and Scarborough entered Tuesday’s contest having beaten Marshwood 11 straight times, including twice last year, 11-5 in the regular season and 13-3 in the Western A Final

Tuesday, the Hawks’ drought against the Red Storm came to an end.

Marshwood got an early break as Scarborough junior Ainsley Jamieson was called for a dangerous shot just 90 seconds into the game and was sent to the sidelines for two minutes. That gave the Hawks a man-advantage and 55 seconds later, sophomore Korinne Bohunsky scored on a free position for a 1-0 lead.

Lewis then made her presence felt by denying both junior Abby Mills and Pietras in close.

With 17:58 to play in the first half, junior Hannah Folger scored in transition to double the Marshwood lead, but three minutes later, the Red Storm’s offense finally kicked into gear.

Scarborough got on the board with 14:53 to go, when Pietras took a pass from Jamieson and finished.

With 7:08 to play, Red Storm sophomore Bailey Adams somehow delivered a gorgeous pass from behind the goal right to stick of Kent, who made a nice catch in front before firing a shot past Lewis to tie the score.

The hosts took their first lead with 3:52 to go in the half when Kent scored on a rebound, but with 29.2 seconds remaining, Poirier got in the scoring column and snapped a 17 minute, 29 second drought for her team with an unassisted goal which sent the game to the half deadlocked at 3-3.

Scarborough (which would have held the lead were it not for six saves from Lewis) won five of seven first half draws, but that would change as the game progressed.

Early in the second half, Lewis denied a good look from Pietras and at the other end, Red Storm senior goalie Meg Kirsch denied Hawks junior Brittany Bossi.

After Kirsch stopped a shot from Scarborough sophomore Kaitlin Prince and Kirsch made a save on a free position from Marshwood senior Alli Schoff, the Red Storm retook the lead, 4-3, when Adams pounced on a ground ball and managed to beat Lewis with 15:24 to play.

But just when it looked like Scarborough was about to seize control of the game, Marshwood took over.

The tying goal came with 13:19 to go, as Poirier scored unassisted.

Then, with 11:09 remaining, Schoff scored unassisted to put the Hawks ahead to stay.

Another Poirier unassisted tally, this one with 10:38 left, made it 6-4 and forced Wood to call timeout, but her team couldn’t respond.

With 8:37 to go, senior Jillian Gori stretched the lead to 7-4 with an unassisted goal and 1:26 later, Poirier scored on a free position for a commanding 8-4 advantage.

The Red Storm has rallied plenty this spring, but this deficit was too large to overcome and Lewis made sure Scarborough never got any momentum as twice she robbed Pietras bids that could have cut the deficit to three.

Finally, with just 56.1 seconds left, Pietras did manage to finish, after winning a ground ball on a rebound of a Kent shot which Lewis had saved, snapping a 14:28 drought, but with 13.7 seconds showing, Poirier set up Schoff for the dagger and the Hawks went on to the 9-5 victory.

“We had some great moments and some not-so-great moments,” Wood said. “We haven’t played a complete game. It gets frustrating. We can’t use the excuses we’re young and inexperienced anymore. We have to do something.”

Kent and Pietras scored twice for the Red Storm, while Adams had the other goal. Adams and Jamieson also had assists. Kirsch made five saves.

Scarborough had an edge in ground balls, 43-31 (as Adams, Kent and Pietras each collected six and Jamieson and senior defensive standout Ashley Ronzo both had five). The Red Storm outshot the Hawks, 19-18 (15-14 on cage), but turned the ball over 19 times.

For Marshwood, Poirier stole the show with four goals, an assist, six ground balls and nine draw wins. Schoff scored twice, while Bohunsky, Folger and Gori each had one goal. Then there was Lewis, who stopped 10 shots.

The Hawks overcame 21 turnovers to earn a seismic victory.

“Scarborough’s a good club, but the kids played well,” said Marshwood coach Bernie Marvin. “They stuck to the game plan. We came up here expecting to win. It’s a tribute to how far the program has come and how hard my kids have worked. The kids were a little bit tentative, but we got that worked out at halftime and you saw the result. I think the key is to make sure we play our game and not get trapped into playing other teams’ games.”

Wood was impressed by Marshwood’s effort.

“(Their goalie) played a phenomenal game,” she said. “Their defense was great, their transition was great. Their offense was patient. They outplayed us. Marshwood’s come a long way. They have some great players.”

Fighting for the top spot

Marshwood (fifth in the Western Class A Heal Points standings) is home for its final two games, Thursday versus Thornton Academy and Wednesday of next week against Deering. The Hawks will be a major factor in the postseason.

Scarborough (fourth in the standings) hadn’t lost four games in a regular season since 2007 and already has more losses this spring than it had in the past three years combined.

The Red Storm hopes to get back on track when it hosts a huge showdown with rival Kennebunk Friday. Scarborough closes at Windham next Wednesday.

Don’t write off the Red Storm yet.

“I think this game gives us confidence that every game is unpredictable,” Wood said. “It could be anyone’s game. We need some wins.”

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

Scarborough sophomore Bailey Adams is defended by Marshwood senior Ali Schoff.

Scarborough junior Ainsley Jamieson is shadowed by a pair of Marshwood defenders.

Scarborough junior Abby Mills battles Marshwood freshman Jenna Kashmer for a loose ball.

Scarborough senior Ashley Ronzo defends Marshwood senior Alli Schoff.

Scarborough sophomore Kaitlin Prince runs upfield while being defended by Marshwood junior Hannah Folger.

Recent Scarborough-Marshwood results

2012
Scarborough 11 @ Marshwood 5
Western A Final
@ Scarborough 13 Marshwood 3

2011
@ Scarborough 7 Marshwood 5

2010
Scarborough 17 @ Marshwood 5

2009
@ Scarborough 15 Marshwood 3

2008
Scarborough 6 @ Marshwood 5 (OT)

2007
@ Scarborough 8 Marshwood 4
Western A semifinals
@ Scarborough 13 Marshwood 12

2005
Scarborough 12 @ Marshwood 5

2004
Scarborough 16 @ Marshwood 15

2003
@ Marshwood 15 Scarborough 12
@ Scarborough 12 Marshwood 8

2002
@ Marshwood 14 Scarborough 4

Sidebar Elements

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Scarborough senior Avery Pietras runs past a pair of Marshwood defenders during the Red Storm’s 9-5 home loss to the Hawks Tuesday night.