Patriots Pull Away From Chieftains

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

On an unseasonably cold and blustery day, the Concord-Carlisle Patriots (3-3-1) defeated the Masconomet Chieftains (4-2) 12-8 in Topsfield.

The Patriots were led by freshmen Center Hannah Dudley who collected 4 goals, 3 assists and 5 draw controls. CC’s offense controlled much of the early game, outshooting Masco 9 shots to 3, which included hitting two crossbars and a side post.

Defensively, Lucy Fell played exceptionally well for the Patriots as she was assigned faceguard duties on Masconomet's University of Florida-bound all-star Amy Arnold. Fell, in combination with Halle Burns and Johanna O’Neil, kept Arnold removed for much of the game and continued their tough defense to a hard charging Chieftain offense.

First-half goals by Dudley and Allie Barrett put CC on the board. Although the Patriots matched the Chieftain’s in draw controls, while also outshooting them, the half ended with a 4-2 Masconomet lead.

"I was not happy with our attack in the first half," said CCHS coach Paul Morrison. "Our shot selection was not good, and this is something we have spoken to the team about for most of the season. I was encouraged by the defense, because they stood strong and limited Masco's attack. I thought our chances were good in the game if we became patient shooting in the second half." 

It didn’t take long in the second half for the Patriots to get on track as sophomore Jenna Carlton took a pass on the ensuing draw from Dudley, ran to goal and fired a far side top corner shot for a big goal. Dudley followed up with her second goal, off a free position shot. And Barrett continued the CC run on a nice spin and drive to goal, which she followed up by assisting Becca Olsen’s first of four second half goals.

Olsen would go on to score two additional back-to-back goals, with assists from Kate Wyeth and Hannah Dudley. The second-half momentum was all Patriots as they took a  7-4 lead. Moments later Masco’s Arnold would collect only her second tally of the game, coming on a free position shot.

Burns, Fell, O’Neil, Brianna Stout and Madeline Leahy all continued to play tough, physical defense for CC, creating turnovers while effectively transitioning the ball down the field. CC Sophomore goalie Conley Ernst played well in net for the Patriots, allowing only 3 goals on free-position shots, and scrambling around the crease while moving the ball downfield on clears. 

The Chieftains attempt at a comeback came in the final 10 minutes of play, the result of a free-position shot followed by an inopportune Patriot clear attempt that was intercepted and scored on an open net. The Patriots reclaimed their command, however, as Dudley, Emma Mahoney and Olsen combined for three more tallies. And then CC utilized the stall to close out the final 90 seconds of the game.

"I was pleased by my teams effort to possess the ball," said Morrison. "Allie Barrett was immense in recording 3 draw controls, 7 ground ball pick ups, and causing 2 Masco turnovers. Emma Mahoney was key with 3 ground ball picks ups and two draw controls. Our two leading scorers (Dudley and Olsen) combined for 5 draw controls and 1 caused turnover, and Lucy Fell thrived in her role as shutdown defender."

The CC Girls JV Lacrosse team also beat Masconomet 12-6 and continued with their undefeated season (7-0). Both Varsity and JV will play Acton Boxboro this Thursday in Acton at 4pm.