Kellen Haley started the snowball 30 seconds into the game, and in less than two minutes she and her teammates turned it into a monster as the Western Albemarle girls lacrosse team picked up four goals in rapid fashion. Salem had no answer, and after calling the dogs off early in the first half, the Warriors were able to cruise into the Jefferson District title game with a 19-4 win over the Spartans.
“What can you say as a coach when (your team) gets five goals in three and a half minutes,” said Western coach Nancy Haws. “I thought they did a really good job and I’m really proud of them.”
After Haley’s goal, Abby Wheeler and Jordan Haws scored three goals in 90 seconds to make it 4-0. It was exactly the tone the team was looking to set.
“I think we have, unfortunately, started games not at our best level recently,” Wheeler said. “We’ve been scored on first in a couple of recent games and we wanted to change that. So it was definitely a goal to come out hard today and make a statement from the very beginning.”
Wheeler was at the helm of a balanced attack, netting seven goals and and assist while six different players were able to contribute multiple point outings. Ellen Shaffery scored four times and helped assist to other goals as the Warriors worked on perfecting the finer points of their game with a commanding 8-2 lead going into the second half.
“(These games), they’re definitely the perfect time to work on some of the smaller things that we might not be as strong at so that further along, when we need them, they’ll be there for us,” Shaffrey said.
Shaffrey led the team with four draw controls while Jordan Haws and Jeanette Fellows each hauled in three.
“The draw controls are key,” said Nancy Haws. “We’ve really worked hard in practice on working to get those draw controls down and being more aggressive from the very start.”
Jordan Haws also scored twice and added an assist. Anna Leibowitz led the team in helpers with three assists. Mady Baker had a pair of goals. Haley, Fellows and Janie Day Whitworth each had a goal and an assist.
Western (10-2) will play Monticello on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
