PORTLAND — Cheverus girls basketball forward Abby Kelly hears it everywhere. At games, or walking around town. Even when getting dinner.

“One time, I was at Chipotle and I heard someone just say ‘I hate Cheverus,’ and I was like ‘OK, wow, I wasn’t expecting that,'” she said. “I didn’t know we were that hated.”

Cheverus is playing Hampden Academy on Saturday in the Class A girls basketball final, and the Stags are hoping their fourth state championship game appearance in five years will net their third title in that time.

And they’re well aware that everyone else is hoping just as hard that they’ll stumble.

“We hear it across all sports,” said senior guard Anna Goodman, who also plays softball at Cheverus. “We see it on social media and comment sections. … It lets us know that people do want to beat us and don’t want us to win, and that makes us want to win even more.”

As a private school competing with public schools for state championships, Cheverus becomes an annual target for scorn and criticism. Add in the dominance that the Stags have enjoyed, particularly in girls’ sports of late — the aforementioned basketball success, as well as three straight undefeated seasons in field hockey, three straight hockey championships before falling in the state final this year, and a softball championship — and that criticism intensifies.

“They always want to beat us, they’re always out for our heads,” senior guard Kylie Lamson said. “Somebody’s always after us, no matter what team it is.”

The Stags, though, don’t see that as a bad thing.

“I would definitely say that some of us really like it,” Lamson said. “I mean, I do, Anna definitely does, too. … I would definitely say it’s motivating.”

Cheverus isn’t the only team to wear the black hat. Thornton Academy plays that role in football, having reached the last seven Class A championship games and won seven titles since 2012. Before the school closed, it was McAuley girls basketball, which went to 10 Class A finals and won six from 2000-14.

Cheverus coach Bill Goodman coached at McAuley from 2011-18, winning three titles. He said there are similarities in how the teams were received by fans and pursued by opponents.

“McAuley had some history there, and we got everyone’s best. And the last couple of years, I’m seeing it at Cheverus,” he said. “I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been to five (regional finals) in a row. We’re going to get everyone’s best shot.”

Goodman, though, said the target on the Stags’ back isn’t just about their status as a private school.

“It’s not (being) Cheverus, it’s more we’ve had a good (run). Oxford Hills had a 15-year run where they were one of the top programs in the state, so everyone wanted to give Oxford Hills their best,” he said. “People don’t like teams that win a lot, so they’re going to root for the underdogs. That’s just human nature.”

Whatever the reason, Cheverus finds itself entrenched in the villain role. The Stags have gained a comfort with it.

“I think it tightens us as a group,” Kelly said, “and I think we have a better connection because of it.”

Asked if she enjoys it, Anna Goodman gave a small smile.

“I wouldn’t say any of us on our team are villains, but as a team, I guess (we) are villains,” she said. “But you know, it’s fun. … Knowing about how bad people want to beat us makes us want to beat them even more.”

Hampden Academy is the last obstacle between the Stags and another Gold Ball. Denying them won’t be easy. Cheverus is deep and talented, and has only been getting a better feel for how they all work together as the season’s gone on.

“I have 11, 12 girls that I know where to put them now on defense when they enter a game,” Bill Goodman said. “We’re a well-oiled machine compared to where we were in November.”

The extra motivation of knowing how many people will be pulling against them doesn’t hurt.

“Obviously, everybody is out for us,” Lamson said. “It definitely does light our fire a little bit.”