Marblehead girls lax falls in D2 North final

WINCHESTER – Any time the No. 1 and 2 seeds get together in a championship game, it usually turns out to be quite a battle. This was exactly the case in the finale of the MIAA Division 2 North girls lacrosse tournament, as top-seeded Winchester was able to hold off visiting Marblehead, 17-9, Thursday evening at Knowlton Stadium.While the final score may not indicate it, the Magicians hung right with the high-octane Sachems for the majority of the evening. In the end, however, Winchester’s offense proved just too much to handle.Marblehead coach Annie Pugh had nothing but praise for the victors following the hard-fought loss.”We knew we would have to play our very best today,” she explained. “They have a great program and a very knowledgeable coach in Suzanne Ontso, who is a wonderful person as well.”After a Megan Hennessey goal just :57 into the action, the visitors went on the offensive, scoring three straight goals in a span of 1:54. NEC North MVP Meggie Collins converted from the right side (Tyler Phillips assisted) before Phillips notched two straight just :26 apart, the latter coming off a feed from Cassie Rodgers.Winchester fought right back to tie things by the 15:57 mark, getting goals from Alexis Miller and Talene Bush, who took a pass from Lacey Hale stationed behind Magicians goaltender Allie Forman, and fired a quick release into the top left corner.A great individual effort from Rodgers (from Phillips), who used a spin move in the slot to lose a couple defenders, gave Marblehead a brief lead at 11:41 before Winchester exploded to finish the final nine minutes of the half. The Sachems reeled off five straight tallies, including two from Hale, before the first horn.”We played a very solid first half, I thought, and started the second strong as well,” said Pugh. “We came out ready to play and our minds were in it. We were strong with our sticks for most of the first half, but we started to lose the momentum late and it was tough to come back from a deficit.”Just as they had in the opening minutes of the first half, the Magicians came out firing in the second. Pamela Gregory opened the scoring at 24:28, on an assist from Collins before a solo effort from Rodgers closed the gap to two. Kiley Fischer added another (from Gregory), and it seemed Marblehead was in control.Two Winchester goals sandwiched Rodgers’ third of the evening before the Sachems poured in three straight to return the lead to four with 13:20 to play. Collins’ second goal of the evening at 12:39 proved to be the Magicians’ last, before the Sachems dominated the final 10 minutes.”They were really able to use their speed all over the field and fully take charge to finish the game. They managed to shut down our transition offense and hold onto the ball for long periods of time,” explained Pugh.In that span, Winchester got two goals from Bush as well as two goals and an assist from Hennessey. Alaina Ewing also factored into the stretch run, scoring once and assisting as well. In four tournament games, Winchester racked up a robust 66 goals.”We gave them a good game. I really couldn’t be any more proud of my team,” said Pugh.Marblehead will lose seven seniors to graduation. The five Magicians who factored into the scoring (Rodgers, Phillips, Collins, Gregory and Fischer), as well as Forman and Alli Hanratty, were praised by Pugh for everything they accomplished in their four years.”All seven of them have been a huge part of this program and its development,” explained Pugh. “It’s going to be very sad to see them go, but I am so proud of each of them and cannot thank them enough.”