No single formula produces victory in girls lacrosse. And while goal-scorers draw a fair amount of attention, an effective defense is just as important.
Skaneateles knows that quite well – and so does Marcellus, the neighbor and rival it conquered once again with the Section III Class C championship on the line.
The Lakers’ 9-7 victory over the Mustangs Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome that produced a fourth consecutive sectional title was won as much by those that protect one net as those that put shots in the other net.
Defenders Lauren Goodchild, Bella Falcone, Tate Green and Bella Falcone, all of them seniors, used their constant pressure to nearly shut out Marcellus in the first half, which gave a patient Lakers attack time to establish a comfortable lead.
And goalie Emily Baldwin, who normally splits duties with Allison Weiss, stayed between the pipes for the entire game, constantly making big stops.
For Baldwin, who came back from an early-season injury to be a major contributor, her success reflected her team’s overcoming an abnormal amount of difficulties that traced all the way back to Kyla Sears’ ACL tear before the season started.
“We were counted out,” said Baldwin. “Against all odds, we showed that we were really good.”
Head coach Bridget Marquardt agreed with that sentiment, saying her team’s evolution from doubt and uncertainty to championship glory was inspiring.
“The growth of our team is phenomenal,” said Marquardt.
With most expecting the same tense thriller that took place when Marcellus rallied to beat Skaneateles 9-8 in overtime on April 28, the Lakers seized the lead just 29 seconds into the game on Molly Newton’s fast-break goal.
Right after, though, the game settled into a stalemate characterized by turnovers, missed shots and plenty of physical play. It was just where Skaneateles wanted it.
Thanks to the hard work on the back line and key early saves by Baldwin, the Mustangs were kept off the board, and another fast break led to Catie Woodruff’s goal at the nine-minute mark.
Bailey Herr’s rebound goal made it 3-0 late in the half, and Marcellus saw its frustrations grow. One of its top scorers, Maddie Conklin, drew a yellow card, and while she was out yet another goal came courtesy of a rebound, Olivia Navaroli pouncing on a loose ball and converting.
More than 22 minutes passed before Grace Coon finally put Marcellus on the board. But Herr and Newton answered with goals 23 seconds apart right before the half, and the Lakers took a 6-1 cushion to the break.
Though Coon scored twice more in the second half, the Mustangs’ hopes for a sustained run got dashed again by the Lakers’ defense, Baldwin making two point-blank stops after Marquardt decided to keep her in the net at halftime, having only decided to start her moments before game time.
A single play, with 12:37 left, symbolized the Mustangs’ frustration for much of the game. Sarah Annable, herself strong in the net, had made another stop, but then Navaroli stepped in front of her clearing pass, intercepted it and passed the ball to Herr, who threw it into the unoccupied net.
Yet that seemed to spark the Mustangs, who pulled within 8-5 on goals by Conklin and Katie Locoastro, forcing the Lakers to use a timeout with 11:08 to play. But that didn’t halt Marcellus, who saw Coon hit a fourth time and then Lily Powell convert a free-position goal with 6:44 left.
Having seen its big margin dwindle to one, 8-7, the Lakers were forced to make a defensive stop to get the ball back. Once it did, it spent the last five-plus minutes in a stall as Woodruff, Navaroli, Hannah Logan, Mae McGlynn and Abby Kuhns did most of the work keeping the ball away until Woodruff netted a clinching goal with 2.6 seconds left.
Marquardt said her team works on end-of-game possession drills “every day, all the time”, and that it helped to have players capable of handling the ball under heavy duress – which the Lakers did, with a familiar championship result.
On Saturday afternoon, in the Class C regional final at West Genesee’s Mike Messere Field, Skaneateles would face Section IV champion Chenango Forks. It proved far less stressful than the sectional final, with the Lakers rolling past the Blue Devils 12-1.
It took less than six minutes for Skaneateles to go in front 5-0 and that margin doubled to 10-0 at halftime, allowing for a running clock. Skaneateles was content with that margin, having seen nine different players score goals, with only Newton and Herr finding the net twice.
Woodruff had one goal and one assist as McGlynn, Hannah Logan, Abby Logan, Riley Brogan, Emma Goodell and Olivia Dobrovosky also would record goals.
So it’s back to the state final four. On Friday at 2:30 at Tompkins County Community College, the Lakers face Section I champion Bronxville in the state semifinals, with the winner to go to SUNY-Cortland Saturday at 2:30 with the state championship on the line.
