Cranford Sticks Lancer Girls Lacrosse

Both teams needed a win.

Though the Cranford and Livingston girls' lacrosse teams played with intensity and focus right to the finish, the Lady Cougars outlasted the Lady Lancers 11-10 Friday at Orange Avenue Field in Cranford.

"I didn't think we played very well today," admitted Livingston coach Dave Cohen. "In the first half, we gave them too many opportunities, we couldn't convert ourselves. Out of the total goals scored, we were only able to get a stick on one. And then offensively, we didn't convert at a high percentage. We shot the ball without a purpose and wasted opportunities." 

Livingston trailed 6-4 at the end of the first half and actually outscored the Cougars 6-5 in the second stanza, but they came up just short.

"We're young," Cohen added. "We play four freshmen and six sophomores. We had a great game against Montclair Kimberly and we were hoping to take a step forward, but it's just part of the growing pains that we have to get through."

Sophomore Sami Attermann and Liz Casola continue to impress offensively for the Lancers, while senior Rachel Loya has been stellar on defense.

"I think today, overall, was an okay performance for our team," Loya said. "I don't think it was one of our best games, but I did think there were moments in the game when we showed lots of potential and we showed a lot of growth. This year, just in general, has been huge growth for our whole team. We're used to getting crushed by the top five teams in the state and we're playing teams we can compete with. The games are always really close. We have a higher skill level and we can compete with these teams."

"We were good at some points and we had the momentum going," said Attermann, who plays right attack. "But we just needed to stick through and when we finally got to the point when we were winning, we let down because we just thought we could keep it up, but we had to keep pushing forward."

"I definitely see positives," said Cohen. "Our help defense has been a lot better. We know offensively to win we need around ten goals. We're right there in terms of having the opportunity. The little things on the field are going to amount to the victory."

Meanwhile, Loya is enjoying her role as a senior and team leader.

"I think my role is just to bring everyone forward. It's my last year. I really want to bring them forward so that the future teams have potential and we'll be the leading team in our conference," said Loya.

Attermann sees things from another perspective.

"Being on the team last year and this year and seeing us improve — and with the core of the team being so young — by the time I'm a senior, we should have a strong team," she said.

Four days earlier, the Lancers shut out Lacordaire 17-0 as Jane Attermann tallied three goals and three assists, while Dani Rotem had six assists for the winners. Sami Attermann, Sloan Genzer and Julie Lubetkin had two goals apiece.

Next week, the Lady Lancers will face Caldwell, Morris Hills and Pequannock.

"That's why I was hoping today to squeeze one out," said Cohen. "Caldwell's a very good team, Pequannock only has one loss. We're going to try and keep the games close and give ourselves an opportunity to get the win."