Women's Lacrosse: Rangers Subdue Crusaders
Led by Samantha Weckwerth's five goals, two assists and Sarah Bracey (4 goals, assist), visiting Westborough (11-4, 9-2 Midland A) overwhelmed Groton-Dunstable (10-7, 5-6), 18-8 this past Monday in girls lacrosse.
Still smarting from their 12-11 loss to Nashoba Regional on May 15, a team they had handled easily earlier in the season, GD came out strong, cycling the ball between Olivia Rubeski, Livy Penney (2 goals) and Caitlin Berube. Finally, Penney found an opening and whipped a shot past Ranger keeper Julia McKay to give the team an early 1-0 lead.
The visitors responded knotting the game at 1-1 on Weckwerth's goal. GD took the lead back at 19:21 when Rubeski (3 goals) scored with a feed from Penney.
Sarah Bracey tallied the first of her four goals, tying the game at 2-2 and the game had the makings of a back and forth thriller with the team scoring the last goal ending up with the "W".
Scores from Julie King and an unassisted goal minutes later by junior Niki Wilkinson (2 goals,3 assists) gave the Crusaders a 4-2 lead. GD keeper Maria Antonellis (11 saves) stopped a Ranger free possession shot and I thought these Crusaders can stay on the field with this talented Westborough team.
But with just under 11 minutes to play in the half, Westborough went on a 6-0 run and led 8-4 at the half, the last two scores coming on free possession shots.
(Major fouls by the defense occurring within an 8-meter arc around the goalie result in a free possession shot for the offense. The player who is fouled moves to her nearest hash mark on the arc. The defensive player who committed the foul must stand on the 12-meter line behind the ball carrier. The arc is cleared of all other players. Any player who is within 4 meters of the player taking the free position must move to be 4 meters away. Upon the ref's whistle, the player with the ball is allowed to shoot, pass or maintain possession. Information from: Girls Lacrosse Terminology site.)
Westborough's onslaught continued in the second half but despite trailing badly, GD kept working, getting goals from Sophie Irby, Wilkinson, Rubeski and Penney.
"Turnovers in the midfield really hurt," said Coach Sarah Valacer. "That is unusual for us because we don't usually make mistakes at mid. Becca Herlihy and Julie King were solid on defense."
"We did not win the draws," asserted Valacer. Westborough won 19 draws to only six for GD and that was telling.
District pairings will come out on Friday. "I think Westborough will stay in Division 1 while we move to D2 for the play-offs," concluded Valacer.
I'll bet no tears will be shed!
