PORTLAND – The temporary tattoo on the left shoulders of the Waynflete players put forth a simple message — “Never Let Up” — and was intended to inspire the Flyers.
It also tells how they won another state title on Saturday.
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Martha Veroneau had four goals and five assists, and Sadie Cole added five goals and two assists as Waynflete rolled to a 16-5 victory against Freeport in the Class B girls’ lacrosse state final at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
Walker Foehl added four goals for the Flyers (14-1), who were playing in their fourth straight state final. Waynflete won its first title since 2009, beating North Yarmouth Academy, 9-5. NYA won in 2010 and Yarmouth last year.
How it reached the final is as rewarding as having won it. On June 9, Waynflete rallied past Falmouth 10-9 in a Western semifinal. Then the Flyers came back to beat Cape Elizabeth 11-10 in triple overtime in the regional final.
“It’s amazing. It feels like we’ve won three championships this week,” Cole said. “After those insanely tough (playoff) games, the fact we could come out and play so beautifully says a lot about our team.”
And its never-let-up attitude.
“It’s been a really long week; we’re emotionally exhausted,” said Coach Cathie Connors. “To win the title after those games, and the work that was involved in replacing eight seniors from the 2011 finalist, Connors said, “is a really nice way to wrap things up.”
“This entire team is incredible,” Veroneau said. “In this game and our last two, everybody knew everybody was a part of this, and that’s really special.”
All of this might have a familiar ring to the Falcons (8-7), who also have a knack for the comeback, the latest a 12-11 win over defending state champion Yarmouth in the Eastern final.
“We’re really happy we made it this far,” said Jess Hench, who had three goals. “One of our goals was to make the playoffs. And to beat Yarmouth, it’s definitely a good thing for our team.”
But the pressure of a first state final got to the Falcons, who have 13 freshmen and sophomores on a 22-player roster.
“We definitely looked nervous,” said Coach Karin Kurry. “We’re young. I told them, ‘OK, now you’ve learned this. Waynflete was runners-up for two years, now they’re state champs.’ Freeport’s definitely building.”
The Falcons also had to deal with Veroneau.
“She knows how to move our defense,” said Alex Mitch, who had a goal and three assists. “She knew our weak spots and maneuvered around us.”
Connors isn’t shy about Veroneau’s value.
“Martha has the ability to just turn it on when we need her to,” she said. “You always know when she has the ball, she’d going to do something with it.”
The Flyers led 7-3 at the half, then opened the second half with six straight goals to put it away.
So the Flyers’ parents will be relieved to know that those tattoos will fade. But the glow of this season’s title run?
“That,” Cole said, “will last forever.”
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