She scored one — and then another to equal the mark.

But her place atop the list will have to wait a few days, despite her teammates’ best efforts to set her up Wednesday. Behind Anair’s twpo goals, though, Richmond cruised to a 5-0 win over Rangeley to secure a spot in the Class D state final at 3 p.m. Saturday in Presque Isle.

The Bobcats outshot the Lakers, 48-1, to help secure the Bobcats’ sixth consecutive regional title.

“I was looking to beat it today, but I am grateful for what I got today,” said Anair, whose previous two seasons have ended with state championship losses. “This is very important to us. We are pumped and want to come home with the gold ball this year.”

“If we are going to win, we need Kelsea to score goals,” Richmond coach Troy Kendrick said. “She set up some people today with some nice balls. She does some great things for us.”

After a slow start in Richmond’s 4-0 semifinal win over Searsport on Friday, the Bobcats came out quickly against Rangeley, which was playing with senior Maddi Egan in goal after starter Sydney Royce was injured in her team’s semifinal win over Buckfield. Goals by Meranda Martin and Anair gave the hosts a 2-0 lead near the midway point of the first half, a frame where the Bobcats (15-1) outshot the Lakers, 24-0.

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“It was 2-0 on goals that with our starting goalie in there they probably don’t go in,” Rangeley coach Chip Smith said. “Nothing against Maddi. I had to lean on a senior today in that spot, and she took it stride.”

“We got off to slow start in the semis, so we talked about how important it would be to get out of the gates quicker,” Kendrick said. “We played as well as we have all year in possessing the ball. I am proud of that effort.”

Autumn Acord’s goal with 7:23 left in the first half capped Richmond’s big first half, with the Bobcats carrying a 3-0 lead to the break.

“We were anticipating that they may pack it in defensively, and it is hard when teams put eight or nine bodies in front of the goal,” Kendrick said. “The kids were patient and composed, and just worked it around and cashed in on the opportunities.”

Bobcats keep coming

Richmond kept the pressure on in the second half. Bobcats goaltender Sydney Tilton made one save when Blayke Morin sent a direct kick from 35-yards out to the Richmond cage.

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The Bobcats put it on ice when Caitlin Kendrick blasted a shot high over the arms of Egan, who had 13 saves.

Anair, off a cross from cousin Destiny Anair, tied the record with her shot slipping past netminder Natasha Haley, who relieved Egan with 11:07 remaining in regulation. Haley stopped Kelsea Anair twice as the time ran out. Haley finished with four stops.

“I take my hat off to Richmond. They have a program that we have been trying to mirror during my three years here,” said Smith, whose Lakers finished 10-4 while advancing to their first regional title match. “For this program to be where it is today says a lot. This is what we strive for.”

Destiny Anair finished with two assists, while defenders Kyla Johansen, Cassidy Harriman, Camryn Hurley and Jade Gammon worked to cut the field in half while keeping the pressure on the Rangeley defense, which was led by Morin, Haley, Maxie Gatcomb, Mary-Paige Swiney and Amber Morrill.


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