Girls Playoffs: Semis Settled, On To The Title Game
Girls Playoffs: Semis Settled, On To The Title Game
Issue 70
Good morning lacrosse fans. Last night was filled with great action on the field. Here’s a couple photos from three of the games at Bingham. Let’s get to it!
As always, this newsletter is brought to you by Vessel Kitchen.
Girls Division A
Kendall Keblish (Park City)
In the first game of the girl’s Division A semifinals, No. 1 Park City dominated the game, beating No. 4 Brighton 18-8.
The Miners took an early two-goal lead on goals by Samantha Riely and Kendall Keblish. Brighton tied the game on back-to-back free position goals by Grace Rappl. Park City then went into overdrive and scored five straight goals, making the score 7-2 with 9:48 left in the first half. Rappl once again scored a free position goal for the Bengals that was answered by five Park City goals starting with a goal by Amelia Livingston then Lilly Hunt, Livingston, Scarlett Hopper and Sophie Neff. The key to each run was excellent goalie play by Park City goalie Sadie AbuHaidar who saved multiple free position shots.
The second-half scoring began at the 20:59 mark when Keblish found the back of the net, making the score 13-3 for the Miners. The Bengals, determined to not go down without a fight, scored the next three goals. The run began with Haley Taylor scoring followed by Zoe Heffernan and Rappl on a free position opportunity. Keblish squashed the run at the 13:56 mark off the draw making the score 14-6 for the Miners. Riely added another then Grace Garrett tailed her first of the game for the Bengals, making the score 15-7 with 10:18 left in the game. Livingston and Kathrin Nixon scored for the Miners which was answered by Rappl who had a nice spin move to jump shot that found the back of the net. Nixon scored again with 23 seconds left to close out the game, sending the Miners to the finals with an 18-8 win.
“It’s a great win, we were really excited for how the girls played today,” said Park City Head Coach Mikki Clayton.
Keblish finished with 5 goals, 1 assist and 10 draw controls for the Miners. Livingston had 5 goals. AbuHaidar finished with 7 saves.
“Sadie had an unbelievable game and she game to play,” said Clayton. “She really saved us a few times. The few times that our defense did let things through, Sadie was there to stop them.”
Park City returns to its tenth overall and ninth consecutive championship game. In 2019, the Miners lost to Herriman after beating them in the 2018 and 2017 title tilts. The Miners beat American Fork in 2016, Brighton in 2015 in overtime and Riverton in 2014. The Miners lost to Skyline in 2013, Bingham in 2012 in double-overtime and Murray in 2008 in double-overtime.
“It feels great to get back after not having one last year. Our girls are really hungry to win,” said Clayton. “The last time we were there we lost so they are ready to go. The team loves each other and play well together and love playing together.”
Brighton finishes the season with a 16-2 record and a Region 6 title. Rappl had 5 goals for Brighton.
Jaimeson Meyer (Waterford)
In the nightcap, No. 11 Waterford led from start to finish, beating No. 10 Olympus, 18-12.
The Ravens jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on three goals by Jaimeson Meyer and one by Eena Yu.
Olympus answered with two goals of its own when Hannah Nelson found the back of the net at the 18:44 mark then again on a free position shot a minute later. Both teams traded goals before Waterford went on a three-goal run with goals from Meyer twice and Sarah Child.
Kate Richards pulled a goal back for the Titans when Eva Thorn won the draw control then found Richards in the middle of the field in front of the crease. Richards had a quick release that found the back of the net. The Ravens then went on a three-goal run with goals from Charlie Iacobelli, Yu and Meyer.
Nelson finished the half with a goal for the Titans with 12 seconds remaining to make the score 11-5 for Waterford.
The Titans started the second half with two goals: one by Nelson and one by Madeline Larkins, making the score 11-7 in favor of the Ravens. Waterford quickly stole the momentum back by scoring three straight goals with two by Meyer and one from Child. Nelson and Hazel Baker scored next for the Titans before Meyer single-handedly took the game over and scored the next four goals, making the score 18-9 for the Ravens with 6:22 left in the game. The Titans weren’t ready to quit as Richards scored two goals and Eva Thorn added a goal with 3 seconds left.
“It honestly feels unbelievable,” said Waterford Head Coach Betsy Weidner. “I don’t think I could have called this from the beginning of the season. We had so many industries and it’s been an uphill battle and I’m so excited.”
Meyer led all scorers with 11 goals and 4 assists. Child had 4 goals and 1 assist for the Ravens. Bailey Norris had 10 saves for Waterford. Nelson finished with 5 goals and 1 assist for the Titans.
Waterford, the No. 11 seed, won the 2011 Girls Division II title and made it to the Class A Semifinals in 2019.
Park City will face Waterford in the 2021 UHSAA Division A Girls Championship game on Friday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Layton High School. Park City beat Waterford in the regular season, 20-8.
Girls Division B
No. 5 American Fork beat No. 1 Riverton, 21-20, to advance to the championship game on Friday.
“This was a hard-fought game and while we got up early Riverton came fighting back,” said American Fork Head Coach Ray Langhaim. “Riverton had some very good momentum runs as well as us. We had 7 girls score and some great defensive plays. Melissa our goalie came up big down the stretch. It was a high passing game with some great plays. A hard-fought game with all the girls from both teams playing their guts out till the end. We are just glad we were able to come out with a victory. It will be a great time to play in the championship game and will be another dog fight with playing Lone Peak who is in our region.”
Sarah Bartholomew (Lone Peak)
On the other side of the bracket, No. 11 Lone Peak beat No. 2 Wasatch, 17-13.
“We came to play today,” said Lone Peak Head Coach Weslie Lundell. “This was a rematch for us and Wasatch. They were our second game of the season and the girls hadn’t quite come together as a team yet. Now, they’re more than a team. Everyone played as one today. Each goal was critical, not just one specific one. Not only did our goalie, Ellie Fuller, have huge saves today, our defense stopped many shots as well. From that, to incredible midfield defense, to solid transitions and attacking the goal, anyone who has watched them all season will tell you they are a different team. To be able to play in a championship game, the girls know how much of a privilege this is. In the beginning of their season it was difficult to picture themselves playing in this game but now that it’s here, they couldn’t be more excited and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”
American Fork won both regular-season games: 14-10 on March 30 and 13-8 on April 22. The 2021 Girls Division B Championship will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Layton High School on Friday.
Girls Division C
No. 1 Woods Cross beat No. 4 Lehi, 12-1.
No. 7 Bingham beat No. 14 Westlake, 12-7.
Olivia Gilbert had 2 goals and 1 assist for the Miners while Hailey Nash and Kaycee Ellison had 2 goals each. Molly Laukka had 18 saves in the win for Bingham.
The 2021 Girls Division C Championship will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Layton High School on Friday.
Be sure to tune in to kslsports.com to catch the boys semifinals, girls finals and boys finals.
— Tim Haslam