'Cats Clinch Playoffs With Comeback

Fighting for a spot in the upcoming state playoffs, things did not start well for the Bethel High girls lacrosse team. Through the first 10 minutes, the Wildcats (7-8, 4-7) had no answer for Masuk’s attack and they quickly fell behind 4-0.

With her team on the verge of letting the game slip away, Coach Shelly DeSisto called a timeout and to settle the team down. From there on out, the Wildcats dominated, they scored the next five goals and held on for an 8-6 win.

“First 10 minutes were a little scary for sure,” DeSisto said. “I was a little frustrated with my defense, it was obvious this team only had a few offensive sets…I was frustrated with my defense for not adjusting and picking that up, they needed a little pep talk. After that, they adjusted and they only had two more goals the rest of the game.”

Following the timeout, the Wildcats began to take over, they scored three goals in the next seven minutes and went into the half down just one. Less than a minute into the second half, Sam Davenport tied the game for the Wildcats with her only goal of the game.

Bethel would score twice in the next five minutes, but the Panthers quickly responded and tied the game both times. With just over five minutes left Laura Steinmetz gave the Wildcats the lead for good when she reeled in a tough outlet pass and drove straight to the net for the go-ahead goal.

After letting a pair of one goal leads slip away earlier in the half, the third time proved to be the charm for the Wildcats. Following Steinmetz’s goal, they dominated the closing minutes. They controlled the ball, got big stops when they needed it and even added an insurance goal when Steinmetz scored another with two minutes to go.

“Those last few minutes were what I was most impressed with,” DeSisto said. “We won every draw and in the last three minutes, we controlled the ball, we didn’t panic when they were trying to double. I told the girls it’s that kind of confidence and control in a tense situation that’s going to come out with a victory.”

Steinmetz finished with four goals while Brooke Ferraro, Serina Ghio and Anna Fiorini all added goals of their own.

“Laura is one of our seniors, and she’s definitely a huge contributor on offense,” DeSisto said. “She’s our go-to player, she can take the ball in on a double team, she can cradle with both dominant and non-dominant, and she knows how to place her shot. A player like that, especially in a tight game like this, is so important. She’s also a great defensive player, she’s really, truly a full-field player.”

While Steinmetz was leading the offense, goaltended Stephanie Forese finished with five saves, the biggest of which came when the Panthers had a free shot from eight meters, just two minutes before the Wildcats took the lead for good.

“Steph is one of the top ranked goalies in the state,” DeSisto said. “She is very clutch, when the eight meters especially count, she stops them.”

With the win, the Wildcats qualified themselves for at least the play-in game of the upcoming state playoffs. They will look to close out the regular season with a five game winning streak when they take on Stratford at home at 11 a.m. on Saturday.