East Lyme — The rivalry, always among the best in the Eastern Connecticut Conference, has never been greater.

Waterford and East Lyme could play chess these days and draw a crowd. And stir emotions in the players.

It was girls' lacrosse Saturday on the turfed lawn at East Lyme, an occasion for East Lyme's Karlie Rowe to recall the indignity of basketball season.

"After watching (Waterford win the) ECC (boys') championship game and then seeing Waterford win states," Rowe said, "we just felt like it was important to come out here today and show that East Lyme lacrosse is ready to win."

The Vikings illustrated as much, defending their field with a 16-7 victory.

Rowe scored seven goals. Her team was barely threatened after a hiccup or two early.

"Last year we played them and it was an 11-7 game and they were in it all the way," East Lyme coach Phil Schneider said of Waterford. "They were in this for a while, too. It's important to our kids when we play Waterford."

East Lyme led 10-5 at halftime.

Morgan Crandall scored three times for the Vikings, while Olivia Facchini had two goals and two assists. Caroline Healy led the Vikings with four assists and Hannah Gellar had two.

Olivia Gianakos had three goals to lead the Lancers, who have lost difficult road games at Stonington and East Lyme. Jacklyn Lavoie and Grace Briggs had two goals apiece for Waterford.

"East Lyme is a good team," Waterford coach Audrey Montanaro said. "But with school vacation here, one thing that affected us is that we only had 12 girls today. They ran the whole game. It's a lot of running. To do that, with that much speed and energy, is a lot and takes a lot out of you."

The Lancers didn't get closer than five in the second half.

"We knew coming in here, it would be a battle," Montanaro said. "I think we played pretty well. One of the things for us right now is that we have to get out of our own heads. It'll come. It's still early in the season."

m.dimauro@theday.com