By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Brianna Vittorini attempts to take the ball away from a Marshfield player during the Whalers' 11-5 loss last Saturday.
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The girls lacrosse team has hit a rough patch, dropping four straight games this week. Despite playing a strong second half against New Bedford on Tuesday, the Whalers lost 13-9. Also this week, Nantucket fell to Dartmouth 11-2 on Monday, Marshfield 11-5 on Saturday and Bourne 12-5 last Thursday.
Things won’t get any easier for Nantucket (1-6) as it is scheduled to host Martha’s Vineyard this afternoon and Cohasset on Sunday. The Whalers are focusing on adjusting their defense, having allowed 11 or more goals in each of their six losses this season.
“Our defense needs to work on adjusting to each and every team, how fast each player is. It takes us a long time to adjust to that. We can’t stop the fast break on a consistent basis,” head coach Amy Knapp said, noting that her team is still young and learning as they play.
Against New Bedford on Tuesday, the Whalers broke out in the second half and put up some solid offense against the visiting Whalers. After falling behind 8-4 in the first half, Nantucket matched New Bedford with five goals in the second.
“This is the best they have played in a long time. Today is the first day they started catching since the Sturgis game. Against Dartmouth and Marshfield they couldn’t catch the ball, they couldn’t protect their cradle. They were making things so difficult,” Knapp said.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Ashley Martin fights for the ground ball with a New Bedford defender in front of the net during Tuesday’s 13-9 loss. Martin scored twice in the second half as the Whalers made a run for the win, but could not overcome the first-half deficit.
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The Whalers took a quick 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Heather Munnelly in the first five minutes of the game. New Bedford then responded with four straight goals to take a 4-2 lead. Sarah Andrews scored twice to keep Nantucket in step with the speedy visitors, but New Bedford added two goals with under a minute remaining to take an 8-4 lead into the half.
Nantucket struggled to contain the quick New Bedford attackers who scored mostly on unsettled offensive plays and fast-break opportunities. After New Bedford scored 10 seconds into the second half, the Whalers kept the ball away from the defensive end by settling their own attack.
“I was very pleased with the attack today. I thought they were very patient throughout the attack,” Knapp said.
The Whalers were finding the open player and being patient with shot selection. Ashley Martin scored twice, and Emily Pitts and Andrews each added one goal to pull within three at 11-8 before New Bedford pulled away.
Miranda Dale made seven saves in goal. Andrea Nogueira scored a game-high four goals for New Bedford.
Against Dartmouth on Monday the Whalers were behind 8-0 at the half.
“Dartmouth is a great passing team. They are a very skilled program where they see the full field and open players. They took it to us in the first half,” Knapp said. “They were fast-breaking, they were drawing the defense and dumping it off to the player shooting.”
Pitts and Martin each scored once in the second half for the only two goals of the game for Nantucket. Dale made 14 stops in net.
Against Marshfield on Saturday, Briana Vittorini put the Whalers on top early with a goal on the first Nantucket possession of the game. The Rams responded with four straight to go up 4-1. Midway through the half, Martin made a nice move on net, switched hands and put the left-handed shot in the net to cut the lead in half at 4-2. Vittorini added one more score in the half, but the Rams controlled the offense and led 7-3 at the break.
“That team is an experienced team so right away we were at a disadvantage. They had an excellent goalie who was not afraid to come out of the net and make the interception,” Knapp said.
In the second half, Marshfield kept picking off passes and taking open shots in front of the net to build their lead. Martin scored two more times in the second half, but it wouldn’t be enough to stop the Rams attack.
Dale had 10 saves in goal.
At Bourne last Thursday, the Whalers fell behind 8-2 at the half. Martin scored a team-high four goals, while Andrews scored once. Vittorini notched two assists and Dale made 13 saves in goal.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com
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