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READFIELD — Zach Stewart said it best: Through it all, his team just played lacrosse.

A very physical game against Erskine Academy was already enough for the Maranacook/Winthrop girls lacrosse team to handle Friday night. Add in a blackfly swarm and the Black Bears’ bodies truly bore the brunt.

Instead of faltering, Maranacook/Winthrop made it look easy. After conceding the opening goal, the Black Bears were nearly flawless in a 15-7 win over Erskine in a matchup of two of central Maine’s top teams.

“We truly played our game all the way through,” said Stewart, Maranacook/Winthrop’s second-year coach. “We had different progressions we wanted to work through, and no matter what happened, we just stuck to our game plan and stayed with it. It was very impressive.”

How the Black Bears did it

• Maranacook/Winthrop (6-1) used two big spurts to change the game. After Erskine’s Abbie McDonald scored the opener, the Black Bears scored four straight to go up 4-1 late in the first quarter. Then, leading 9-5 in the second half, they scored six in a row to take a double-digit lead early in the fourth.

• They powered through fouls — Erskine (6-3) had four penalties and a red card — and used them to their advantage. Much of the six-goal spurt in the second half came with the Eagles in the box. Stella Stewart scored the Black Bears’ last goal, playing through an injury suffered during the game.

“I think that just made us stronger,” said Mya St. Pierre, who led Maranacook/Winthrop with four goals. “I think this was a really good stepping stool for us because it really showed us that, when we work hard and work together, we can really do a lot.”

What it means

• After losing to Freeport to open the season, Maranacook/Winthrop has won six straight games. The Black Bears have outscored opponents 82-27 during that stretch, winning five of the six by nine goals or more.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game for us,” said Emerson Davis, who scored twice. “We knew that they were great competitors, and to come out with this win is really important to us.”

• It’s the second impressive win this week for Maranacook/Winthrop, which defeated Class B contender Cony in overtime Monday. The Black Bears leapfrogged Traip Academy for first place with the win.

• Erskine had a four-game winning streak snapped. The Eagles had defeated Winslow/Lawrence, Maine Central Institute/Nokomis and Mt. Blue all by double-digits before topping Lincoln Academy, 8-6, last Friday.

They said it

• “One of the talking points we have is, ‘Don’t talk; communicate.’ Whenever somebody says something, we always have echos. It’s a trust-and-verify thing, and it’s strong communication, and that’s going to lead to a good athletic performance by a team.” — Zach Stewart

• “We just work so hard, and we really want it, so I think (going down a goal) was fuel for us to work harder and really be smart about how we play on offense.” — Mya St. Pierre

Stat leaders

• Erskine: Abbie McDonald (four goals), Belle Pelotte (three goals), Jackie Sasse (two assists)

• Maranacook/Winthrop: Mya St. Pierre (four goals, two assists), Alice Ferran (three goals, assist), Eve Ariskin (three goals)

Up next

• Erskine: vs. St. Dominic Academy/Oak Hill (0-6), 4 p.m. Monday

• Maranacook/Winthrop: vs. Mt. Ararat (9-0), 6:30 p.m. Monday