St. Dom’s senior Caroline Gastonguay directs the offense against the defense of Erskine’s Olivia Kunesh (1) and Morgan Edmond (7) during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)
AUBURN — The Gastonguay sisters and Avery Lutrzykowski were firing on all cylinders for St. Dominic Academy on Tuesday against Erskine Academy in the Class C state semifinals, and the Saints defeated the Eagles 15-2 to reach the state championship game.
Freshman Charlotte Gastonguay had six goals and three assists, and her sister Caroline, a senior, scored two goals and delivered two assists. Lutrzykowski also had two goals and two assists. Emma Theriault and Mia-Angelina Leslie each added two goals.
“The past three games, we were off to a slow start,” St. Dom’s coach Leslie Klenk said. “We weren’t being patient and were caught off-guard. Our focus today was to get off to a smart, fast start and keep going from there.”
St. Dom’s will face Lake Region in the state championship Friday at 5 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.
The Saints were off and running Tuesday when Charlotte Gastonguay scored off the opening faceoff 10 seconds into the contest off a feed from Lutrzykowski. Theriault made it 2-0 before the 30-second mark of the game.
“We were coming out expecting different results, and when you come down and get two quick ones, our kids work hard and they aren’t going to quit, but it’s very hard to comeback from repeated shots on goal,” Erskine coach Shara Macdonald said. “Our goalie played well today. I thought she had some really nice stops.”
Erskine goalie Ashlyn Wing made seven saves in the game.
Theriault had chances to pot more goals in the game, but she was snake-bitten by hitting the post a few times in the fist half.
Lutrzykowski scored two goals between the the 4:30 mark to the seven-minute mark to give the Saints a 5-0 lead.
Caroline Gastonguay picked up her first goal of the game off an assist from Lutrzykowski. Mia-Angelina Leslie then made it 7-0 for the Saints. That was the last goal of the half not scored by a Gastonguay.
Charlotte Gastonguay scored four of the final five goals in the first half. Caroline had the other. The Saints led 11-0 at the break.
While she wasn’t tested often, Saints goalie Simone Long was solid in goal in the opening half, stopping all four shots she faced. She made six more saves in the second half.
“She was definitely the key today,” Klenk said. “I think she was our most valuable player for (us) because she stopped shots that could have gone in easily.”
Long had confidence in her teammates, and she was familiar with the shots she was facing.
“We do those types of drills in practice, so I am pretty comfortable with it,” Long said. “Plus, I had my entire team in front of me supporting me in slowing the ball down so I have enough time to react and move in the correct position.”
Leslie opened the second half with her her second goal of the game. Charlotte Gastonguay had the assist. Charlotte Gastonguay and Theriault stretched the lead to 14-0.
Jordan Linscott broke the shutout bid with 7:30 minutes remaining. Isabella Johnson scored the Eagles’ second goal four minutes later.
“We really didn’t set up our offense until the second half,” Macdonald said. “If you aren’t running something and you are just standing, it makes it difficult to score.”
Taryn Cloutier capped the scoring off for the Saints.
St. Dom’s and Lake Region played each other May 9. The Lakers won 11-10 in double overtime.
Rileigh Stebbins of St. Dom’s carries the ball upfield as Erskine’s Jordan Linscott defends during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)Erskine’s Courtney Tibbetts can’t prevent St. Dom’s Mia-Angelina Leslie from shooting and scoring in the first half of a Class C semifinal game Tuesday. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)Avery Lutrzykowski attacks Erskine’s defense as teammate Caroline Gastonguay (3) looks on during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Anna Cote turns upfield after scooping up a ground ball during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)Erskine’s Jordan Linscott, center, splits the defense of St. Dom’s Madison Leslie, left, and Caroline Gastonguay, back, during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal) St. Dom’s Emma Theriault picks up a ground ball in front of Erskine’s Courtney Tibbetts during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Avery Lutrzykowski and Erskine’s Isabella Johnson battle after a faceoff during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)Mia-Angelina Leslie is surrounded by defenders as she shoots against Erskine goalie Ashlyn Wing during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Charlotte Gastonguay, far right, reaches in try to snag a ground ball that teammate Emma Theriault and Erskine’s Caitlin Labbe were battling for in front of the Eagles’ goal. Erskine’s Alana York (13) watches teh play during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Emma Theriault and Erskine’s Caitlin Labbe vie for a ground ball ast Theriault’s teammate Charlotte Gastonguay looks on during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Avery Lutrzykowski changes direction against Erskine’s Isabela Johnson during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Rileigh Stebbins tries to make a play while being surrounded by Erskine defenders, including Olivia Kunesh, right, during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Caroline Gastonguay runs by Erskine’s Jordan Linscott during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Caroline Gastonguay works against Erskine’s Olivia Kunesh during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)Caroine Gastonguay of St. Dom’s makes a move against Erskine’s Morgan Edmond as Erskine goalie Ashlyn Wing watches on during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Avery Lutrzykowski gets past Erskine’s Isabella Johnson during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)St. Dom’s Emma Theriault looks for an opening against the defense of Erskine’s Jordan Linscott during Tuesday’s Class C semifinal. (Lee Horton/Sun Journal)
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