PORTLAND — The last time reigning Class A boys’ lacrosse champion Portland crossed paths with Lewiston, the Blue Devils gave the Bulldogs fits. In return, the ‘Dogs unwittingly gave the Devils hope.

No. 1 Portland’s determination to do neither won out in Saturday’s rematch, one that ended No. 5 Lewiston’s season with a 9-5 Eastern Class A semifinal verdict at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

This was nothing like Portland’s rain-soaked morning in Lewiston last month, when the Bulldogs (14-0) needed a fourth-quarter rally in order to swipe a two-goal victory.

After Erik Tiner knotted the game for Lewiston with 3:24 remaining in the first period, Portland rattled off four unanswered goals and never relinquished control.

“They didn’t play as they could have the first time, and we knew they would adjust. I think we caught them a little by surprise,” Lewiston coach Bill Bodwell said. “We’re just not as deep as some of the teams we play.”

Lewiston (7-7) did a respectable job marking Portland sniper Caleb Kenney. Hot off a quarterfinal game against Scarborough in which he scored 10 goals, Kenney was contained to two goals and one assist.

Five other players scored at least one goal for Portland, however. Kevin Nielsen chalked up a goal and five assists to bolster the Bulldogs, who will host Messalonskee in Wednesday’s regional championship.

Portland advanced to a sectional title game for the fourth time in five years.

“Caleb has been doing that all year, but we knew other people needed to step up,” Nielsen said. “You can’t win with just one player.”

Jason Knight and Seamus Kilbride each scored twice for Portland.

The Bulldogs led 6-2 at halftime and never allowed Lewiston to creep closer than three goals thereafter.

Sam Cloutier’s second goal of the game for the Devils, an unassisted tally, made it 7-4 with 9:49 left.

Knight and Bronson Guimond answered for Portland. Curtis Robinson chalked up the only Lewiston response down the stretch.

“It was huge for us to get off to a better start. Huge,” said Portland coach Eric Begonia. “We talked about how a different start would definitely lead to a different ending.”

Lewiston (7-7) shut out Deering on Wednesday to earn the rematch.

The Devils’ defense wasn’t bad in its second trip to the city in four days, either. With Lewiston denying Kenney the ball as much as possible, Portland needed goals by Knight and Gordon Parker — both courtesy of Nielsen — to build a 2-1 lead after one period.

Kenney fought for a ground ball after his own initial shot was saved by Jesse Leeman and planted the rebound to make it 3-1. Nielsen and Kilbride then followed in quick succession.

“He’s a smart, veteran player,” Begonia said of Kenney, “and he understands that his role is going to change every game. He knew that he’d probably have to be more of an assist guy tonight.”

Leeman and Portland counterpart Ryan Jurgelevich each made 14 saves.

Cloutier finished with two goals and an assist, while Robinson complemented his goal with two assists. Elliot Chicoine also found the net.

All three along with Leeman are juniors for Lewiston, which bids farewell to seniors Kurtis Stocker, Tiner, Jacob Tanguay, Kris Gagne and Ryan Landry.

“It’s a young group and I was their third different coach in three years,” Bodwell said. “We had a great season. We won a game in the playoffs, and I’m proud of the way we played today.”

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