WATERVILLE — The Messalonskee High School girls lacrosse team didn’t waste any time taking control of Saturday’s Class A North semifinal against Mt. Ararat. Messalonskee scored five goals in the game’s first six minutes and was never really challeneged, winning 12-1 at Thomas College.

“It helped to come out strong. Once we scored a few goals on them, then that mental game comes into play. It’s tough to dig yourself out of a hole,” Messalonskee coach Ashley Pullen said.

The top seed, Messalonskee (13-1) will host No. 3 Lewiston (10-4) in the regional championship game on Wednesday. No. 5 Mt. Ararat ends the season at 6-8.

Lydia Dexter scored 1 minute, 46 seconds into the game to give Messalonskee a 1-0 lead. Ally Turner, Lauren Pickett, and Turner again scored quickly, and when Dexter added her second goal, Messalonskee led 5-0 with 19:47 left in the first half.

“I think we were just really pumped. We came out really fired up, and I think that helped us,” Messalonskee co-captain Nathalie St. Pierre said.

St. Pierre scored with 8:47 left in the first half to push the Messalonskee lead to 9-0.

When Riley Field scored with 2:19 left in the first half, Messalonskee’s lead reached 10 goals, and the game went to running time.

“I was very pleased with the way we played today. The ball movement was great. They were looking for their teammates. Shot placement was pretty good,” Pullen said.

Messalonskee was content to run clock for most of the second half. Mt. Ararat’s Ronni Pelletier scored with 9:30 left in the game, on her team’s first shot on goal. Mt. Ararat finished with just two shots.

“One of our goals was to let up very few shots, and I think we were successful,” St. Pierre said.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

<URL destination=””>tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

</URL>Twitter: @TLazarczykMT