NORTHPORT — In a thrilling contest, the Lincolnville Lynx succeeded in extending its undefeated record in championship games on the artificial turf at the Point Lookout Resort field in Northport on Wednesday, Oct. 23, thus making it now six championships in six tries.

They did have to share the honors with an impressive Camden-Rockport sixth grade team, however, as they battled to a 1-1 tie.

The Lynx have definitely been a never-say-die team this year as they racked up a 14-0 record during the regular season and their two prior playoff games but never more so than in the championship game.

The Camden-Rockport team, a group that has been playing together for years — and therefore who know each other’s styles extremely well — certainly showed their mettle by exhibiting a hustling, skilled ball movement style of play that made it difficult for the Lynx to dominate them as they have been able to do to other teams this year.

The first half was scoreless, though both sides staged a number of dangerous drives, but both defenses managed to hold the line with Lynx goalkeeper, Avery Luft, also making several fine saves to deny the Schooners.

The Lynx initially struggled to adapt to Camden-Rockport’s aggressive style of play, but then stepped it up in the second half, and Lincolnville ended up dominating the two five minute overtime periods.

Both scores came in the second half, with Camden-Rockport finding the back of the net first at 45:56 when they got a clean break up their left side of the field.

A cross through the Lynx defense to Camden’s right winger allowed him to slam it home despite a desperation dive made by Luft who really had no chance for the save. This was only the second time this season that Lincolnville has been behind, but that only served to motivate the Lynx.

Refusing to fold, they showed a great deal of class by continuing to exert extreme pressure on the Camden-Rockport defense.

Finally, a long clear out of Lincolnville’s end went to striker Mikayla Talbot who deftly controlled it before sending an angling through pass forward from right to left. Striker and team leading scorer Owen McManus ran the ball down, eluding a defender on the way, and as he reached a spot about three yards from the end line on the right of the goal, he cut a fine finish back to the far post for the tally at 56:09.

Both teams continued to strive for the win for the last four minutes of regulation time and the two overtimes, but neither side cracked.

The entire Lincolnville team could not have put forth a more tremendous effort than they did.

The Lynx offense, consisting of strikers McManus and Talbot, supported by midfielders Sage Burgess, Bryce Curtis, Nathan Oxley, Liam Day-Lynch, and Jaden Johnson, kept running to the final whistle giving their all to get that winning goal.

In addition the defense, featuring Luft in goal and Roo Boetsch, Canyon Palise, Chloe Day-Lynch, and Mason Clark — and supported by the midfielders — played the same hard nosed, tenacious game they have all year, a definite factor in keeping such a fine offensive unit as the Camden-Rockport fielded to a single goal.

In a way, a tie was perhaps a perfect ending for this game because both teams truly played like champions.

Ben Edes is the coach of the Lincolnville soccer team. 

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.