YARMOUTH — And so it ends. Suddenly. Dramatically. Stunningly.

Ellie Morin´s tip-in goal 3:16 into overtime gave Scarborough High its first Class A field hockey championship, a 2-1 victory over Skowhegan that ended the Indians´ eight-year title reign.

"What a way to end it," said Scarborough Coach Kerry Mariello.

Scarborough, which lost to Skowhegan in double overtime in the title game last year, forced the overtime on a goal by Brittany Ross with 5:27 remaining. Then the Red Storm completed their perfect season (18-0) by converting the only chance either team had in overtime.

Scarborough was awarded a free hit at about the 25, which was taken by Heather Carrier. Her hard, low drive went into the circle and Morin, stationed in the middle of it, got her stick on the ball and redirected it into the goal. As referee Shannon Whiting pointed to midfield, signifying the goal, the Skowhegan players stood in disbelief.

"We let the ball go in," said Skowhegan Coach Paula Doughty. "My kids didn´t think anyone touched the ball."

But Morin, who stepped into a big role when her twin sister Jackie was lost for the season to a knee injury, knew she did.

"I knew if someone didn´t touch it, it wouldn´t count," said Morin. "And it just got the very tip of my stick. I felt the stick vibrate in my hands. I got that. I made sure the ref saw it. And she called it."

Morin, like most of her teammates, was drained emotionally and physically after a hard-fought game.

"It was intense, it was hard," she said. "But those are the games worth winning, the ones that you have to fight for.

"We waited long enough for (the championship). We deserved it."

Skowhegan, which had won every championship since 2001, finished 17-1.

Ever since last year´s loss to Skowhegan, the Red Storm set their sights on winning this game. They dominated the regular season and then fought off a valiant Cheverus team in the regional final.

Just like last year, Skowhegan scored first in the championship game. After a scoreless first half, Skowhegan scored quickly in the second. Rebecca Pratt sent the ball into the circle on a free hit and Mallory Hancock swept a reverse hit through a crowd and into the goal, just 3:19 into the period.

Scarborough began to push hard, getting several penalty corners in a row. In fact, the Red Storm had nine penalty corners in the second half to Skowhegan´s one.

With Scarborough still trailing with 13:27 remaining, Mariello called a timeout.

"I told them to believe and to keep believing," said Mariello. "No matter what was happening, I thought we could do it."

Scarborough finally tied it. Ashley Anastasoff got the ball in the left of the circle and sent a shot back toward the goal. During a scramble, Ross got her stick on the ball and pushed it forward. It bounced in, and Ross threw her stick in the air in celebration.

"I was praying it would go in," she said. "Last year I did it and one of their girls got to the ball and stopped it (which led to the winning goal)."

Skowhegan had a final chance with a penalty corner with 2:15 left. But Morin blocked the shot and the game went to overtime.

"(Scarborough) played a wonderful game," said Doughty. "I thought it was a great game. The way we lost was difficult."

But very memorable for the Red Storm.

"We knew what we had to do," said Ross. "From the first day of (preseason), this is what we set out to do. We accomplished everything. And most important, we did it as a team."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com