Ludlowe Girls Lacrosse Beats Staples in two OTs

The Fairfield Ludlowe girls' lacrosse team extended its winning streak in dramatic fashion Tuesday.

Sarah Nesi scored in double overtime, lifting the Falcons to a wild 13-12 victory over Staples.

Ludlowe,which won its fifth straight game to improve to 6-1, forced overtime on a goal by Tierney Larsen with 14 seconds left in regulation.  

Staples came out passing effectively, their first goal coming as Maeve Flaherty converted a pinpoint pass from Nikki Seo behind the Ludlowe goal into a blazing shot into the upper corner of the Falcons' goal. 

Ninety seconds later, a passing sequence that started with Lexa Koenig to Adele Mackey on the left wing to Blair Barone got the Wreckers swiftly upfield, where they set their offense for Elizabeth Driscoll to fire in their second goal.

By the 19th minute, the Wreckers enjoyed a 6-2 lead, but the Falcons closed to 7-5 at halftime and scored the first three goals of the second half, taking an 8-7 lead.

Undaunted by the shift in momentum, the Wreckers battled back, with Driscoll racing the length of the field and earning a direct shot that brought the Wreckers even at 8-8. 

 Ludlowe regained momentum, going up, 11-9,  with under nine minutes left in regulation. The Wreckers responded with a hard shot from Flaherty and a direct shot from Jessie Ambrose that knotted the score at 11-11.

 Adele Mackey gave the Wreckers a 12-11 lead with 42 seconds left in regulation, but Larsen came from behind the goal to tie the score at 12-12 with 14 seconds on the clock. Ambrose's bouncing attempt flew over the goal as time ran out.

 Late the first overtime, Staples controlled the ball, inexperience persuading them to hold possession on the Ludlowe perimeter for much of the final minute without taking the necessary shots. 

After Nesi's goal in  the second overtime, the Falcons regained the ball and ate up the clock until Staples won a final chance with 40 seconds left. 

Remy Nolan fled up the field and passed to Seo, who took a great shot low into the Ludlowe crease. A cheer from the Staples crowd died away as Ludlowe goaltender Charlotte O'Donnell managed a save and the game ended.