Throughout a tough season of girls high school lacrosse, Mt. Ararat coach Sam Chard has spoken about his team’s poor shot selection over and over again.
“Don’t shoot high!” barked Chard often this year, with his Eagles trying but rarely succeeding in this task.
On Wednesday at Bates College, Chard’s charges seemed to get the message, using pinpoint and low angle shooting along with game-long pressure in a 14-9 Class A North quarterfinal win over Edward Little.
The Eagles (6-7), seeded fifth, will take on No. 1 Messalonskee — a 13-4 winner over eighth-seeded Cheverus — in a semifinal clash on Saturday, while the season came to a halt for the fourth-seeded Red Eddies, who finished 5-8.
“We have been working on it quite a bit, and we have been looking for those kinds of shots. Today they did a nice job of that,” said Chard after his Eagles surpassed their season high in goals in a game (11 against Oxford Hills).
The scoring for the Eagles was spread out, led by sophomore Emily Welch, who tallied four goals and dished out an assist. Welch, who has struggled at times this year, made the tough adjustments.
“Emily is an offensive threat, and we need her to be that and she was,” said Chard. “She has a good shot, but sometimes it can be predictable. She hustled, and it was a good effort today.”
“We work on shot selection every day in practice,” said Welch, who admitted getting the ball to the turf on shots was difficult for her. “I have a lot of trouble getting the ball low and staying patient. But, today I thought we did a good job of that.”
It was a turnaround season for the Red Eddies. After an 0-5 start, EL won five of its final seven games to claim the fourth seed.
“This was a great season, and these players worked for everything they got,” said Red Eddies coach Jessica Somers.
Early adjustment
The game started fast, with five goals scored in the opening four minutes. Isa Blessington, Erin Tome and Welch struck for the Eagles, while EL senior and Bowdoin College bound Francesca-Beth Haines scored twice for the Red Eddies.
Off a draw control, Haines collided with a Mt. Ararat player while battling for a loose ball and tumbled to the turf, clutching her knee. Haines went to the sideline, returning later in the half sporting a knee brace, hampering her movement. Somers moved Haines to forward, but losing her top midfielder hurt the Red Eddies on attack.
“We had to make an adjustment, moving Francesca up front after her injury, and that takes her out of the midfield where she is so gifted,” said Somers.
Mt. Ararat used a goal each from Ronni Pelletier, Jordan Chase and Welch to claim a 6-3 lead. Over a five-minute stretch, goaltender Mariah Vaillancourt kept EL in the game, turning aside five straight Mt. Ararat shots, including a pair of free-position chances.
However, EL had trouble gaining possession as the Eagles finished with a 19-6 edge in draw controls and out-shot the Red Eddies, 30-22.
“Our defense for the most part did a nice job,” said Chard of defenders Magan Thomas-Copland, Maddie Alexander, Ana Knight and Vanessa Balser.
Mt. Ararat held a 7-4 halftime lead, and a goal by Welch just 15 seconds into the second frame gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead.
Somers made an adjustment to her midfield, inserting speedy Grace McBride, a move that paid off as the Red Eddies exploded for four straight goals to forge an 8-8 deadlock with 15:52 remaining. Haines had three in the run, finishing with a game-high six tallies on the day.
“I thought we did a lot of good things today. Grace McBride really stepped up in the second half and provided a spark, and Mariah in goal (13 saves) was solid as always,” said Somers.
But, Mt. Ararat found another gear, reclaiming the lead on a goal by Blessington, and Shannon Harty, Welch and Tome scored over a 1:27 stretch for a 12-8 lead for the visitors.
Blessington finished with three goals and four groundballs for Mt. Ararat, with Tome and Pelletier chipping in two goals and an assist apiece, and Chase netting two goals. Mt. Ararat goaltender Eleanor Skinner turned aside seven Red Eddie shots.
Kaylee Jipson and Megan Steele picked up a goal and an assist for EL, with McBride chipping in a goal. Piper Norcross led the Red Eddies with four groundballs.
No. 5 Mt. Ararat 14, No. 4 Edward Little 9
Class A North Quarterfinal At Bates College in Lewiston
Mt. Ararat — 7 7 — 14
Edward Little — 4 5 — 9
Goals – (MtA) Isa Blessington 3, Erin Tome 2, Emily Welch 4, Ronni Pelletier 2, Jordan Chase 2, Shannon Harty; (EL) Francesca-Beth Haines 6, Megan Steele, Kaylee Jipson, Grace McBride. Assists – (MtA) Erin Tome, Emily Welch, Ronni Pelletier, Magan Thomas-Copland; (EL) Megan Steele, Kaylee Jipson. Shots – Mt. Ararat 30, Edward Little 22. Saves – (MtA) Eleanor Skinner 7; (EL) Mariah Vaillancourt 13. Draw controls – Mt. Ararat 19, Edward Little 6. Records – Mt. Ararat 6-7, Edward Little 5-8. Up next for the Eagles – Saturday in semifinal at No. 1 Messalonskee, time TBA.
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