Madison Girls Lax Falls To Columbia

SOUTH ORANGE–The drawback of playing a difficult schedule is that there are fewer romps over overmatched opponents, and more chances for defeat against high-quality opposition.

Madison High School head girls lacrosse coach Carole Rawding is OK with that, so long as her Dodgers take something from each setback.

With that in mind, Madison's 8-6 loss to Columbia Thursday at Underhill Field could serve as a crash course in defending the end-of-game stall.

"In the past, with our schedule, we wouldn't see a team of this caliber until the first or second round of the states," Rawding said. "We haven't played too many close games this year. And while we've worked on breaking the stall a little, it takes a lot of work in practice. We weren't ready today, and we didn't execute."

Madison trailed by four goals midway through the second half, but rallied to cut the deficit to 7-6 with 6:30 to play. Columbia's Ginevra Czech made it 8-6 on a free position shot two minutes later. The Cougars won the ensuing draw and never lost possession, passing the ball around in their attacking zone for four minutes as Madison's energy drained.

"It's a learning experience for us," Rawding said.

The Cougars' successful end-of-game stall ended hopes of an improbable Madison comeback, after the Cougars took an early lead and the Dodgers' offense shot itself in the foot.

Madison started off strong, needing just 33 seconds from the opening whistle to take a 1-0 lead. Kathleen Matthews converted on a feed from Evan Foulsham, but that would be one of few first half highlights for the Dodgers.

Columbia's pressure defense forced Madison into numerous turnovers, and the Dodgers' unforced errors killed several more possessions.

"We came out tentative," Rawding said. "We played at their tempo in the first half, and very tight."

Madison's skilled offensive players did get plenty of looks at the Columbia cage, but Cougar goalie Samantha Storch was solid as a rock. She made 11 saves in the opening half, including a pair of free position shots. Only Matthews–who scored her second goal on a free position shot with 7:14 left to make it 4-2 Columbia–could solve the Cougars' keeper.

"She's a talented goalie," Rawding said. "We made her look really good today, too. We shot it right at her a few times ... they weren't our best shots."

On the other end, Columbia received contributions from four different first-half goal-scorers, including Meredith Crane, who scored after she evaded her defender with a elusive pirouette coming around the right side of the cage.

Columbia took its largest lead, 7-3, on Michaela Galante's goal with 13 minutes to play and appeared to have the game firmly in hand. But a free position goal by Ali Foulsham cut Madison's deficit to three a few minutes later.

Alli Helwig won the ensuing draw, and Emily Rutland found Matthews cutting, unmarked, to the front of the cage. Matthews converted with 10:18 to play; Columbia's lead had been halved in just 12 seconds.

Four minutes later, the Cougars' hold on the game grew ever more tenuous.

Madison had very few transition opportunities Thursday, but they took advantage of a rare chance to close within 7-6. Rutland finished it off by beating Storch from about eight yards out off a great feed from Rachel Misko.

"We played at our tempo in the second half," Rawding said. "We possessed the ball on the draw, didn't force things, and found the open girl."

Momentum appeared to have swung Madison's way. But the Dodgers could never pull even.

Sophomore Olivia Mangan forced a ground ball away from the talented Helwig on the ensuing draw, which was picked up by Columbia. With 4:30 to play, Czech drew a foul in prime shooting space, earning a free position. The senior made the most of her opportunity, converting in traffic to make it 8-6.

NEXT UP
Madison will play its second straight New Jersey Interscholastic Girls Lacrosse League game Saturday morning against Kent Place. The game is set for 11 a.m. at Madison High School.

The NJIGLL, new for the 2010 season, placed Madison in the ultra-tough Central-A Division along with perennial state powers Chatham, Mendham and West Essex, along with solid programs at Summit, Oak Knoll, Columbia and Kent Place.

Kent Place comes into Saturday's game at 3-2, most recently dropping a 17-7 decision to Chatham, which is ranked third in New Jersey in the LaxPower computer rankings.

BOX SCORE
Madison     2  4  -  6
Columbia   5  3  -  8

GOALS
MAD- Kathleen Matthews 3, Amelia Murcott 1, Ali Foulsham 1, Emily Rutland 1
COL- Ginevra Czech 3, Michaela Galante 2, Meredith Crane 1, Maggie Richardson 1, Melissa Carelli 1

ASSISTS
MAD- Evan Foulsham 1, Alli Helwig 1, Emily Rutland 1, Rachel Misko 1
COL- Michaela Galante 1, Ginevra Czech 1, Meredith Crane 1

SHOTS ON GOAL
Madison    13  7  -  20
Columbia    9  5  -  14

SAVES
MAD- Shannon Sweeney 6
COL- Samantha Storch 14