Mepham Girls Lax Takes it to Elmont 8-6, Improve to 4-0

Coming off a huge 10-5 win over previously undefeated Great Neck, the Mepham girls were looking to extend their season win streak to four yesterday against Elmont. It seemed that the weather would be Mepham's biggest adversary in the opening minutes, with gusts of wind blowing their long passes around the field.  

It wasn't until captain Lauren Johnson was awarded a free shot that Mepham would take its first lead of the game over Elmont. The girls kept consistent pressure on the Elmont defense, but were unable to find the back of the net. Elmont would sustain a strong man to man defense for another five minutes and Mepham would take a penalty to allow Elmont its first score of the day.

Senior Lauren Johnson would soon after find the back of the net again to bring her team into the lead once more. The wind was still playing a distracting role on the game so Coach Geraldine O'Brien called a time out with a little over seven minutes left in the half to discuss strategy with her girls.   

O'Brien had said that she spoke to her girls about making shorter and smarter passes because of the wind. Mepham came out strong after the time out besides an early goal that may have been a miss call by the referee, because it seemed as though the Elmont player was in the goalie crease. It was all Mepham the rest of the half scoring three more goals by Jessica Gelbwaks, Sam Acri and a buzzer-beater by Lauren Johnson.

At half time Coach O'Brien said, "We need to reduce our long passing and clean up our game... we can't take the shot unless we know we have it."  

Starting the second half, Mepham had a 5-2 lead, but would soon find themselves up by one after two quick Elmont goals. Once again Mepham coaches would need to use a time out to rally their girls. Three goals later - another two by Lauren Johnson and one incredible shot by Cristina Olson - would have the victory secured for Mepham.  

With seconds to go, Mepham coachess told their girls to keep possession and play smart. The outcome being an 8-6 win over Elmont and a 4-0 season record.

Coach O'Brien said, "I've never been prouder of our goalie...She saved the game for us."

Goalie Kathryn DeLauter had 17 saves on the day and fellow senior Lauren Johnson had five goals.