Tough Season Ends for Lady Colts Lacrosse, but Team Friendships to Last Forever

Playing in Conference I this season, the Lady Colts lacrosse team was matched up against the toughest competition the county has to offer.  

It was certainly a rough road, with Calhoun finishing 4-12 overall, but they never backed down all season long against some really talented teams.

The season came to end yesterday, as Calhoun was defeated by Plainedge at home 15-9 in the playoff quarterfinals. Although it was a difficult season, head coach James Raucci insisted that it was a great learning experience for the girls to play in such a competitive conference.

"The girls did a good job just competing in Conference I and trying to keep their heads in it," he said. "It was tough to go up against that talent. Plainedge is tough and they gave us a good game. It's upsetting to lose the way we did, but at the same time the girls know they have to work a little bit harder, keep their attitude up and just keep competing."

Kim Kovar, Lauren Blumberg, and Marissa Levings each scored three goals for Plainedge, and Nicole Ellis scored twice.

For Calhoun, Megan O'Sullivan, Ava Fitzgerald, Daniella Kirby and Diandra Hanna all scored two goals. Erin Green also added a goal.

"It's been a great four years that I've played on varsity," Green said. "This team was truly unique and I've never known a group of girls like this that help each other like we all do. We were playing tough teams and we all just stuck together and tried to do our best and it didn't always show, but we were a good team."

In goal, Kayla Garritano made 13 saves for Plainedge, while the duo of Casey Solotoff and Hayley Solomon made 10 saves for Calhoun.

The two teams started out going back and forth, as Kovar netted the first goal for Plainedge, and the Colts responded with a goal from Hanna. After Ellis scored to make it 2-1, Calhoun would take the lead after back-to-back goals by Kirby and O'Sullivan.

Plainedge then went on to score seven of the next eight goals. Two goals from Blumberg and a goal apiece by Gabrielle Charno and Danielle Pigott made it 7-3.

"We moved the ball well," Charno said. "We were able to control the ball on offense and pass it around. We didn't really force any shots and our defense was really strong. It was a good team effort."

A goal by Hanna finally ended the drought. But after Blumberg scored again, Kristen Van Wie and Levings scored to give Plainedge a 10-4 lead at the half.

The Colts' defense improved in the second half, as the two teams scored five goals apiece.

Kovar and Levings scored two more, and Kathleen Kennedy also added a goal for Plainedge.

"We won a lot of draw controls," Kovar said. "And that really wins games when you can get the draw. We were calm on offense and didn't force anything."

For the Colts, Fitzgerald scored twice, Kirby added another, Green scored her only goal and O'Sullivan scored the last goal of the game with two minutes remaining to make it 15-9.

It marked the end of the season for the Colts, who graduate seven seniors this year: Katie Berghorn, Kelly Cosentino, Kelly Cummings, Green, Kirby, Catherine Ruvolo and Jessica Teves.

"It was really an honor to play on this team," Ruvolo said. "Especially playing my first year as a senior. All the girls are really supportive and I don't think I'll ever forget all the memories and all those really comforting moments that they've coached me through. You really don't find a team like this that is so close and that tries so hard no matter what. These girls are one in a million."