East Lyme — The celebratory pile was well deserved for Woodstock Academy early Thursday night, a culmination of a memorable year of girls' sports.

The No. 4 Centaurs, who already won Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament championships in girls' soccer and volleyball, added lacrosse to the list of banners this season, following their 11-9 win over top-seeded and defending tournament champion Stonington.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Emma Ciquera scored three times — she has a team-leading 62 on the season — two of which came with her team protecting a late lead.

"Woodstock's program has come a long way," Stonington coach Jeff Medeiros said.

The Centaurs didn't have to come as long of a way to reach the finals, however. Stonington (15-3) defeated time-honored ECC power East Lyme to advance, while Woodstock defeated top-seeded Montville, a relative newcomer to the conference tournament.

"It was a tough seeding, no question," Medeiros said. "I wasn't happy with it. But it is what it is. I'm a veteran to this. I know we have what it takes to win this, but we didn't have it today."

Woodstock led 6-3 at halftime and stretched it to 8-3 early in the second half. The Bears awakened finally, cutting it to 8-6 on goals from Kate Johnson (two) and Emma Sabbadini. Stonington later cut it to 10-8 but was again unable to get closer.

"We kept making the same mistakes," Medeiros said. "Too many costly mistakes. I thought their goalie (Kileigh Gagnon) was the difference in the game. She was really good in the second half."

Johnson finished with four goals for the Bears, while Sabbadini scored three.

Peyton Saracina scored twice for the Centaurs, who won their first ECC lacrosse title.

"We just didn't have control of the ball today the way we usually do," Medeiros said.

Still, there is room for hope, he said. They didn't win this tournament in 2014 and the program won a state title. The Bears won the ECC title last year but bowed out of the Class S tournament in the quarterfinals.

"Maybe that's a sign this is going to be our year," Medeiros said. "Our mission isn't done."

m.dimauro@theday.com