Bigger challenges loom ahead for the Bishop Ludden girls lacrosse team, but it is displaying, at this early point in the season, quite a lot of grit and determination.
That was evident in last Thursday’s game against LaFayette, where the Gaelic Knights, trailing by four goals at halftime, made it all the way back to stun the Lancers 8-7.
LaFayette arrived at this game with a 3-0 record, and looked for a long while to make it four in a row, shutting down Ludden during a dominant first half. Yet the Gaelic Knights only trailed 5-1 at the break because its defense kept breaking up possible Lancer attacks.
Then, after the break, Ludden started winning draws, attacked more and converted often. Teresa Shattuck led the charge, scoring four times and adding two assists, while Stephanie Brazella, Seanna Laneve, Jenn Vazquez and Gemma O’Kane notched one goal apiece.
Before that, Ludden improved to 2-0 on the young season last Monday night with an impressive 12-5 victory over Tully.
Having built a 6-2 halftime margin, the Gaelic Knights continued to pull away in the latter stages behind a deep, varied attack where O’Kane, with four goals and one assist, and Shattuck, with a goal and five assists, led the way.
Nicole Granteed scored twice, adding an assist, with Brazell, Laneve, Vazquez, Julia Catalano and Molly McNerny oining Shattuck with one goal apiece.
There wasn’t a letdown after LaFayette, either, as Ludden battled past Cortland 14-11 on Saturday afternoon, again falling behind and again saving its best work for the second half.
Trailing 7-5 at the break, the Gaelic Knights stormed back as, again, O’Kane proved tough to stop, managing five goals and one assist as Shattuck got three goals and three assists. Granteed also had a three-goal hat trick, with Vazquez scoring twice and Laneve getting the other goal. Shea Swartout led Cortland with five goals.
If Ludden could knock off Onondaga on Monday, it would carry a four-game win streak into its April 22 showdown with defending Class C champion Skaneateles.
