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St. Catherine’s girls lacrosse edges Albemarle

Photo by Tom Pajewski

St. Catherine’s and Albemarle’s girls lacrosse game Thursday quickly became a track meet pitting the Saints’ Liza Williamson against Albemarle’s Morgan Rose with St. Catherine’s pulling away for the 9-7 win in a hard-fought contest.

During a sizeable stretch in the second half, Williamson and Rose traded goals. Rose cut into St. Catherine’s lead and made the game 6-5. Then Williamson scored to re-extend the lead 7-5. Rose, 7-6, then Williamson 8-6. Both players finished with four goals apiece with St. Catherine’s earning the two-goal victory.

Williamson opened up the scoring for St. Catherine’s five minutes into the game with a shot five yards outside of the crease.

The game slowed after the first goal as teams traded offsides calls back and forth. After a timeout Albemarle came out shooting. The Patriots scored three goals within one minute and 11 seconds. Rose scored twice in one minute while Lizzy Chapman extended the lead, 3-1 with 10:25 remaining in the first half.

However, a defensive lapse by Albemarle opened the door for the Saints as they scored four unanswered goals on a scrambling Patriot defense.

Just before the end of the first half, Gwen Pattison slotted in a crucial goal to keep Albemarle in striking distance with St. Catherine’s leading 5-4 at the half.

Albemarle junior Caroline Sheppard stepped up in goal to start the second half, holding the Saints scoreless for the first eight minutes after the break. Albemarle gave up two fouls outside of the crease, giving St. Catherine’s two shots on goal. Sheppard deflected both shots to preserve Albemarle’s one goal deficit.

“[Caroline] played well. She had a couple of really key saves and really stepped up,” said Albemarle coach Lauren Thraves.

However, a similar scoring drought for Albemarle’s attack cost them once Williamson warmed back up, slotting her second goal of the match to make it 6-4.

“[Albemarle] played an incredible game,” St. Catherine’s coach Susan Talieaferro said. “They are a really well coached team, they’re a really aggressive team and a well-skilled team along with a great goalie.”

Jane Pinnata and Gwen Pattison led the Patriots with four ground balls. Cam Edson and Jenn Wendelken each had one assist. Meanwhile, Nancy Taylor and Allie Tattersall each had an assist for St. Catherine’s.

“This is only our second game but we are really playing together as a team,” Thraves said. “I am really happy with where we are at this point in the season.”

Albemarle will travel to Salem Wednesday night while St. Catherine’s will play at Trinity Episcopal Saturday afternoon.

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