WELLESLEY — In a battle between a star-driven Westford Academy squad searching for its storybook ending and a top-seeded Concord-Carlisle team riddled with talent, depth proved to be the key to history.
The Dual County League matchup featuring No. 6 Westford Academy and No. 1 Concord-Carlisle in Thursday’s Division 1 state girls lacrosse championship pitted two high-octane offenses, but a deep scoring offense propelled the Patriots to an 8-6 win to capture their first state title at Babson College.
Lindsay Cain netted a hat trick in the win as Scarlett Mirak and Karleigh Mutch notched two goals each for the Patriots (23-2). Sarah Fortier’s insurance tally was vital to pulling away in the second half.
“They believed they could do it this year,” said Concord-Carlisle head coach Erin Cash. “They really believed it, and then they made it happen. Nothing was given to them.”
Westford Academy (19-4) rattled off wins over No. 27 Winchester (13-6), No. 11 King Philip (19-5), No. 3 Lincoln-Sudbury (11-10) and No. 2 Wellesley (11-10) before falling just short of capturing a title.
Ohio State-bound hockey and lacrosse standout Kassidy Carmichael registered three goals in the loss after catapulting the Ghosts to the finals with a last-second goal in the Final Four.
Concord-Carlisle avenged its 15-13 loss to the Ghosts on May 6.
The Patriots jumped to a quick 2-0 lead at the 8:35 mark of the first, catalyzed by a save by Mami Kosicki on a Carmichael free shot on the game’s opening possession.
From there, Mirak and Mutch found twine for Concord-Carlisle to gather some early momentum. But the Ghosts settled in, and Carmichael couldn’t be stopped.
Responding to the Patriots’ jolt, the senior ricocheted a laser off the right post and in while on the run to slice Concord-Carlisle’s lead in half. And after Cain scored at the 3:08 mark to regain a two-goal cushion for the Patriots, the Ghosts evened the score on more mastery from Carmichael.
Kiley Carmichael tucked in a slick feed off the stick of Kassidy Carmichael with 2:27 left in the frame before the senior took matters into her own hands with 43.5 seconds left to tie the game at 3-3.
Her original release on a free shot was turned away by Kosicki, but Kassidy Carmichael barged through a cluster of defenders before picking up the loose ball and diving across the crease to finish the second-chance opportunity.
Kassidy Carmichael picked up where she left off in the second, converting at the 8:13 mark to provide Westford Academy with its first lead.
It looked like that score would stand until halftime, but Mutch found the back of the net with 1:29 left as both teams entered the break in a deadlock. The Ghosts landed two high-danger shots on goal in the final minute — including one off the stick of Kassidy Carmichael — but Kosicki stood tall.
The Patriots scored two straight goals to open the half as Cain and Sarah Fortier recorded tallies to provide Concord-Carlisle with a 6-4 advantage. Mia Cullen answered at 4:07 in what was Westford’s first shot on goal of the quarter, but Mirak upped the lead to 7-5 under a minute later.
Cain scored at the 8:20 mark to give Concord-Carlisle a three-goal cushion. Cullen cut the lead to 8-6 in the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.
