By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The girls lacrosse team won all four games it played this week, defeating New Bedford 10-9, Sturgis 14-2, Mashpee 13-11 and Dartmouth 8-7 to extend its winning streak to five in a row.
 |
Photo by Bevin Bixby
Lia Newman looks to make the pass with Kelsea Ames trailing as a Mashpee defender comes in for the stick check during Monday’s 13-11 Whalers win. The girls lacrosse team won all four games this week over New Bedford, Sturgis, Mashpee and Dartmouth to extend its winning streak to five in a row.
|
The Whalers, who improved to 7-2 overall on the season, are scheduled to host a rematch with Barnstable at home this afternoon and travel to Bishop Stang on Friday. Nantucket has a difficult stretch of road games coming up next week against Cohasset Monday, Bourne Tuesday and Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday.
The close wins over league foes New Bedford and Dartmouth have given the Whalers the boost of confidence they need heading into the back end of the schedule.
“The streak has been a real positive thing for girls lacrosse. We have never had such a high record before. It doesn’t indicate the hard road ahead, but I would hope having a 7-2 record would give the girls some confidence to believe in themselves and to motivate them to win more," head coach Amy Knapp said.
Against Dartmouth at home Tuesday, the Indians took the early lead on their first possession, but the Whalers dominated the rest of the half. Ashley Martin and Kelsea Ames each scored twice in the first frame and Samantha Lockley added one goal as Nantucket took the 5-2 lead into the break.
Dartmouth, a team that has been a perennial favorite over the Whalers in recent years, came out of the half with a more aggressive game plan.
“I think Dartmouth underestimated us. The last three or four years we always lost by a 10-goal difference. They are used to being able to win easily,” Knapp said.
Despite two goals from Briana Vittorini, the Indians hung around and pulled within two at 7-5 with under 10 minutes remaining.
“Against competitive teams we can easily take a lead into the half and blow it. But we never lost the lead, which was nice. It kept getting closer and closer, but I think that kept them motivated,” Knapp said.
Dartmouth put the pressure on the Nantucket defense with a goal to pull within one at 8-7 with two minutes on the clock. Senior Ainsley Ellis made a key stick check on a fast-break opportunity to keep the Whalers ahead by one and seal the win.
“At the end there was a lot of panic. We need to learn how to gain and keep possession in tight games like that,” Knapp said.
Miranda Dale kept the Whalers in the game with 10 saves between the posts.
The Whalers increased their win streak to four games with a win over Mashpee at home Monday. Despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Whalers struggled out of the gate to control the speed of the visiting Falcons.
“We came out very flat. There was no energy,” Knapp said. “We couldn’t slow down the fast break. Once they settled it we had a better time defending it.”
Nantucket never relinquished the lead, but the Falcons hung around, pulling within one goal at 5-4 before the Whalers broke it open to 8-5 at the half.
“There were way too many dropped passes. We weren’t winning ground balls, we weren’t catching, we weren’t winning draws and we weren’t winning ball control,” Knapp said.
The Whalers relied on their strongest goal scorers to stay one step ahead of the fast-paced Falcons. Sarah Andrews scored five times while Vittorini and Martin scored four goals each. Winnie Maggs chipped in with four key assists.
The Falcons pulled within two goals at 11-9 10 minutes into the second half, but the Whalers were able hold Mashpee scoreless for the next 10 minutes to protect the lead.
Against Sturgis on Friday, the Whalers were in control from the opening draw.
“I was impressed with the cleanliness of the game. They did a great job passing and catching, transitioning up-field and doubling the ball everywhere,” Knapp said.
The Whalers held the 11-1 lead at the half.
“They came out in the first half and got a 10-goal lead so we were able in the second half to work on passing the ball and only shoot when they were open off a cut,” Knapp said.
Gaby LaFavre, Lexi Baker and Maggs all played well for the Whalers, while Bianca Brown and Aileen Fredericks were solid on the defensive end intercepting the ball.
Nantucket spread out the scoring among nine different players. Martin led all scorers with four goals, while Emily Pitts and Lockley scored twice each. Maggs, Fredericks, Baker and Caroline Stanton each scored their first goals of the season. Lia Newman and Heather Munnelly also added goals for the Whalers.
The Whalers traveled to New Bedford on Thursday to face an aggressive and rough squad. Nantucket held its own against the league opponent to come out on top.
“The score doesn’t reflect that intensity level and the poor sportsmanship showed by the New Bedford side,” Knapp said.
New Bedford came out with the first two goals of the game, but the Whalers rebounded to take the lead at halftime. Martin again led the Whalers with four goals, while Andrews and Vittorini scored twice each. Newman and Munnelly scored one goal apiece and Lockley contributed with two assists.
“It was great to have a win and we are looking forward to playing them on our home turf. Hopefully it will be a cleaner game,” Knapp said.
New Bedford was issued two yellow cards in the game.
|
