After winning the state championship last year, the Lady Dalers lacrosse team lost their starting defense, goalie and key offensive players. So, this was to be a rebuilding year. But, another title?
The Lady Dalers lacrosse team came from behind in the finals to become NY State champions for the second year in a row.
In the semi-finals last Friday, the Lady Dalers played Pittsford at SUNY Cortland. Kyra Ochwat opened up the scoring 4:40 into the game to give the Lady Dalers a 1-0 lead. Pittsford scored the next two goals to lead 2-1. As the Lady Dalers tied the game, Pittsford took the lead again. Kyra Ochwat broke a 4-4 tie to take the lead for the Lady Dalers and started a four-goal drive. The Lady Dalers would have an 8-4 lead into half time.
In the second half, the Lady Dalers defense only allowed two goals, while the offense scored nine times to give the Lady Dalers a 17-6 win and a spot in the finals. Kyra Ochwat had five goals, Melanie Raso four, Kelly McPartland three, Kim Kolodny two, Jamie Leone two, and Maegan Meritz one. Goalies Alex Gurecki had six saves and Megan Planz one.
In the finals on Saturday, the Lady Dalers took on a strong Lakeland/Panas team. This was a defensive battle for both teams. It took 16 minutes and 43 seconds before the first goal was scored. It was not by the Lady Dalers. As the offense was taking shots on goal, Lakelands goalie Alex Fitzpatrick was making save after save, frustrating the Lady Dalers. They outscored their opponents 66-28 during the playoffs, now they found themselves down 2-0. It was not until 2:30 left in the half that Maegan Meritz would score, and then Kimberly Kolodny at 1:32 to go into the half tied 2-2.
After going into the locker room, the girls had some doubts about this game. Their strong offense only had two goals that day, and whatever they did was not enough. Coaches Shari Campbell, Tracy Wiener and Katie Paccione reinforced the team to keep it going. Lakeland started off the second half with a fast goal to take a 3-2 lead. But Melanie Raso got the goal back less then a minute later to tie it again at 3-3. Three minutes later Lakeland would go up again 4-3, but Raso to the rescue. She scored again to tie it at 4-4. With some great ball control, picking up the loose balls and winning draws, this showed some other strengths the Lady Dalers had. Jamie Leone would score the next two goals at 13:27 and 11:24 to give them a 6-4 lead. Again the Lady Dalers would have control to run five minutes off the clock before Lakeland would score to make it 6-5 with 6:41 left in the game.
In a tense last few minutes of the game the Lady Dalers got the ball, and tried to run out the clock. Lakeland got possession of the ball, but the Lady Dalers got it back and ran the clock to zero, to capture their second straight New York State Class A Title. Goalie Alex Gurecki had four saves to help keep Farmingdale in the game.
Congratulations to the Lady Dalers on their championships. Nassau County Class A Champs, Long Island Class A Champs, and their New York State Class A Championship. The coaches did a great job on a rebuilding year. Good luck to the graduating seniors Melanie Raso, Sarah Mulcahy, Taryn Boyle, Stephanie Rice, Jordyn Hasemann, Megan Ryan, Alyssa Cardillo, Alexis Rzempoluch, and Megan Planz.
For more photos go to www.elegant photos4u.com
