High schools Friday: Windham girls lacrosse handles Cape Elizabeth
Windham and Greely Advance in Maine High‑School Lacrosse Tournament
Windham, ME – In a showcase of talent and stamina, the Windham girls’ lacrosse team, the state‑title holders, dominated Cape Elizabeth 16‑4 in the Class A quarterfinals on Friday, while the top‑seeded Greely Rangers pulled away from the Gardner/Hall‑Dale Tigers 16‑1 in the Class B bracket.
Windham’s offensive firepower was led by sophomore Abby Trainor, who scored seven goals and dished out two assists. Neve Ledbetter added a brace of goals and four assists, while Olivia McPherson netted two more. Mady Donnelly, Morgan McLain and Brooklyn Roy each contributed a single goal. The defense and goaltending, anchored by freshman Avery Adams who stopped four of the eight shots on goal, kept the Eagles in front of the net for the final 16‑minute stretch.
“Every time we come up with a good play, it feels great to see the result on the scoreboard,” Coach Kevin O’Neil said after the game. “The boys and girls have worked hard all season, and it shows.”
Cape Elizabeth, the 11th‑seeded Eagles, fought hard but fell short. They were paced by Lulu Stoecklein, Zabina Zimmerman, Audrey Higgins and Lucy Backman, each scoring one goal. Goalkeeper Ella Boyer made two saves before the tide turned in Windham’s favor. With the win, Windham will face second‑seeded Cape Elizabeth in the semifinals, keeping the “Eagles” title on the line.
In the Class B quarterfinal, the Greely Rangers – the tournament’s top seed – rolled past the eighth‑seeded Gardner/Hall‑Dale Tigers 16‑1. Makenna Seaver led the charge with four goals and an assist. Audrey Ingersoll added two goals and two assists, while Kaia Perkins, Hadley Hatch and Molly Magoun each scored twice. The Tigers’ sole scorer, Avrey MacMaster, was unable to find the net again after an early goal.
“Greely’s depth really made a difference today,” Greely coach Matt Mitchell said. “They played a disciplined, high‑energy game and it paid off.”
Greely will now face No. 5 seed Brunswick in the semifinals, while the Tigers’ season ends with the loss.
The tournament is being broadcast and covered by Maine State Credit Union, which has pledged to keep high‑school sports coverage free for all residents, emphasizing the importance of community and sport in the state’s culture. “Our communities, our teams, our future,” the credit union’s promotional tagline reads, encouraging viewers to support local athletes and enjoy the games at no cost.
The quarterfinals were held in Windham’s home field and set the stage for a thrilling semifinal round. Fans are already gearing up for the next leg, as Windham and Greely aim to defend or claim the state titles amid a growing roster of competitive teams.
