Wolverines Tested by Norwell, Remain Unbeaten

Westwood's varsity girls lacrosse team knocked off the defending Division 2 state champions Norwell at home Monday afternoon by the score of 21-12. The nine-goal margin, however, hardly summed up the performance by Westwood, which gave up its second highest goal total of the season.

“I thought we did a poor job playing team defense,” said assistant coach Bryan Petillo. “We didn’t do a great job collapsing and helping out and they did a good job scoring when they got the chances to.”

Westwood jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead midway through the first half, thanks to two goals each from Laura McHoul, Emily McGrail and Kim Egizi. The goals turned out to be much needed, as Norwell started to turn on the burners and give Westwood a fight.

“To put those goals in at the beginning was really something our team needed,” said midfielder Kate Rich. “It really helped us raise the level of intensity because they were bringing it and we were trying to match that.”

For the next 10 minutes, the Clippers outscored Westwood by a score of 6-3, a scenario the unbeaten Wolverines are quite unfamiliar with. Norwell was moving the ball and capitalizing on turnovers and Sarah Biron talked about how the Clipper offense was able to be so effective.

“I really think it was their crease roll,” Biron said. "They have an amazing crease roll and we weren’t there. Every time we would send a double, the girl that was left open would cut through and get a quick shot and that was the killer.”

Fortunately for the Wolverines, McHoul and McGrail each put in goals with under two minutes in the half to bring the lead back up to eight and carry the momentum into the second half.

Westwood opened the half on a 6-1 run which turned out to be another crucial stretch in which they capitalized on.

“Those few goals at the end really helped remind us what we can do and how we can do it,” Biron added. “We talked at halftime about our intensity and how we need to bring it up and what we need to do to go out there and pound it away.”

Once the green hit the 20-goal mark, they appeared to ease off the gas and work their offense to get the best shot available.

Norwell took full advantage, scoring five straight goals in the next 12 minutes to make it an eight-goal game once again. But the clock wasn’t on Norwell’s side, as it was too little too late for the Clippers.

Kate Rich added the final touch for Westwood, putting in her fifth goal of the game with six seconds left and ending a more than 15-minute scoring drought.

Rich also led the team with five assists. Laure McHoul had five goals as well with three assists and Emily McGrail added four goals. Biron, Egizi and Ela Hazar each scored twice, and Jamison O’Neil scored the final goal for the Wolverines.  

For Norwell, Mary O’Connell led the way with three goals.

Mollie Brown made seven saves for Westwood and the Wolverines barely edged out the Clippers in shots on goal, 25-20.