CCHS Girls Lacrosse: Patriots Push Past Bucs, Pull Magic Act on Marblehead

The following was provided on behalf of the Concord-Carlisle High School girls varsity lacrosse program.

Patriots Push Past Buccaneers

Junior Becca Olsen collected four goals to help pace the CC Patriots (7-8-1) past the Bedford Buccaneers (4-9-1) 18-6 in Sunday’s makeup game.

After initially allowing two goals to the Buccaneers’ back on May 9 under threatening skies, CC poured on the offense with three goals in the next three minutes of play before the skies opened up resulting in a game postponement. The Patriots picked up where they left off during Sunday’s makeup game, dousing their opponent with eight goals to Bedford’s one.

Goals came fast and widespread throughout the game from 10 CC players, including Kate Wyeth (3 goals), Allie Barrett (2 goals), Emma Mahoney (2 goals), Cassidy Hale (2 goals), Catherine Gouchoe (1 goal) Mirande Gaehde (1 goal) and Amelia Johnson (1 goal) and Johann O Neil (1 goal). Sophomore attack Jenna Carlton led the team with 6 points on 1 goal and 5 assists.

The Patriots continued to show their  balanced team approach on both ends of the field as Junior Tessa Dibble, Senior Lucy Fell and Freshmen Madeline Leahy and Briana Stout all made defensive contributions.

Barrett and O’ Neal supported the midfield play with a combined 7 ground balls. Conley Ernst minded net for the Patriots during the first half of play allowing only 2 goals, while Freshmen goalie Kayla Milofsky provided the same stubborn play in net the second half.

Coach Paul Morrison said the win was much needed for the Patriots.

"We are in a win or go home mode right now," he said. "If we want to make the playoffs we can't lose another regular season game. I thought Kate Wyeth led us again, and she has really picked up the team down the stretch. Jenna Carlton having 5 assists is a trend that the whole team needs to pick up on to make us more dangerous. It was great to see Miranda Gaehde, Amelia Johnson, Catherine Gouchoe, Tessa Dibble, and Kayla Milofsky make the most of their opportunity out there.

Patriots Pull a Magic Act On Marblehead

The CCHS Girls lacrosse team (6-8-1) put on a show of their own Friday, May 17, defeating the Marblehad Magicians (14-1-1), 17-8 at Doug White Field.

The Patriots, who are battling for a Division 1 playoff berth took control of the game early and never looked back. Senior Captain Kate Wyeth led the Patriot charge, notching 5 goals while Allie Barrett and Becca Olsen supplied three goals each. Freshmen Cassidy Hale also punched in 2 goals with 2 assists as fellow classmate Sophie Shipe potted a goal.

Sophomore Conley Ernst was once again remarkebly defiant in net. The Patriot netminder made 6 solid saves on 9 shots in the first half, some during early critical early stages of the game that allowed CC to push out to a sizeable lead before the half. Ernst would end the game with 9 saves on 16 shots for a 56 percent save average.

This may have been one of the Patriots best 50 minutes of overall balanced play this season.

It was a solid team effort on both sides of the ball as the defensively Johanna O’Neal, Lucy Fell, Madeline Leahy and Halle Burns continuously harrassed Marblehead causing turnovers then collected ensuing ground balls and transistioned them up midfield to the offense. The return of Captain midfielder Allie Barrett from an ankle injury was significant and immediate for CC as the junior scored two of the first three Patriot goals and helped CC  set the tone for  the game.

Marblehead, who had entered the game ranked as one of the top 20 teams in the state by various polls and newspapers, could do little to gain any traction or momentum as CC took control outbattling for the ground balls and playing mostly mistake free lacrosse. At the half CC led 10-3

The Magicians managed a short spray of 3 consecutive goals early in the second half to bring the game within for at 10-6 however CC’s offense responded well to the challenge as Wyeth and Olsen both doubled up with tallies while Mahoney, Hale and Carlton all found the back the of net. With five minutes remaining and a 15-8 CC lead, Marblehead attempted to press the Patriots stalled offense by doubling up  on CC ball handlers. The Patriots executed well however eating up valuable clock time while still notching two final empty net goals.

"We really needed that win" said CC Coach Paul Morrison. "Conley Ernst was the difference for us in goal early in the game, and then the team settled down. Captain Kate Wyeth had a monster game for us and led the way to keep our playoff hopes alive."