By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Sarah Andrews carries the ball in front of a Vineyard defender during last Wednesday's loss. |
Officially eliminated from the playoffs last week, the girls varsity lacrosse team has struggled down the stretch, losing three of four games this week.
After losing at home to the Vineyard 14-3 last Wednesday, the Whalers beat Bridgewater-Raynham 14-9, lost at Barnstable 13-7 and at New Bedford 15-14.
Nantucket was scheduled to host Cape Cod Academy yesterday, too late for this edition of Sports. The Whalers will wrap up their schedule at Dartmouth this afternoon.
In the rematch against a physical New Bedford squad Tuesday, the Whalers took the 3-0 lead early before allowing the mainland Whalers back in the game. Nantucket had the lead the entire first half, including a 9-6 advantage at the break.
“In the second half we lost some of that momentum and New Bedford was on a roll,” head coach Amy Knapp said.
The score went back and forth as New Bedford took a two-goal lead in the second half, but the Whalers came back and tied the score with 2:40 remaining in the game. On the next possession New Bedford scored the go-ahead goal.
“We had the ball down at their end, we had a lot of shots on goal, we just couldn’t get it in the net,” Knapp said.
Sarah Andrews led the attack with five goals, while Lia Newman also had a strong day with four. Freshman Breezy Beaumont, who has been effective in recent games, tallied a goal and an assist. Emily Pitts scored twice and Lexi Thayer added a goal. Rachel Siegel played well on deep defense in front of goalie Theresa Head, who had a busy day with 20 saves.
The Whalers came out slowly against Barnstable Saturday. The Red Raiders went up 6-1 and led 9-3 at the half.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Barnstable, they are a good team, but we have a hard time playing teams away. The only teams we have beat away are Fairhaven and Cape Cod Academy. Any competitive game we have played away, we have lost,” Knapp said.
Andrews led the Whalers with three goals, while Newman, Lexi Baker, Beaumont and Winnie Maggs added one goal each.
The Whalers were out for revenge against Bridgewater-Raynham Friday. Nantucket lost to the Trojans 10-5 just before spring vacation without a full squad.
With all their starters Friday, the Whalers went after the win, opening up a 7-2 lead by halftime. The defense allowed Bridgewater-Raynham to stick around with some goals in the second half, but the Whalers’ offense kept scoring to maintain a comfortable lead.
Pitts and Andrews scored five goals each, while Maggs added four. Baker was strong at taking and winning draws with Riley Fredericks making a number of key plays to win possession in the circle. Head made 15 saves in net.
Against rival Martha’s Vineyard last Thursday, the Whalers came out firing and took the early lead against the stunned opponents.
“It was pretty exciting for the first five minutes of the game,” Knapp said. “We were really excited, as they always are or any team is when they play the Vineyard. They came down to the field raring to go and started the game strong. I think they kind of shocked Martha’s Vineyard and Martha’s Vineyard responded by waking up and getting into the game and picking up their level of play.”
Fredericks scored the first goal off a feed to the crease from Lexi Thayer, and Maggs added the second on a loose ball rebound for the 2-0 advantage.
“Our goal all year long is to score the first goal and we for the most part have never been able to meet that goal. Against the Vineyard we did, so that in itself was a goal we met and we were excited about,” Knapp said.
Martha’s Vineyard, however, responded by scoring 14 straight goals, including seven before the break to take the 7-2 lead at halftime.
Head had a strong game in net with 19 saves against the quick-shooting squad. The Whalers were also strong off the draw.
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