This past Wednesday, Manual’s varsity girls’ lacrosse team took down the Assumption Rockets, 8-7.
First Quarter:
Manual won the first draw, which allowed Eva Kalmbach (#19, 12) to quickly score. Soon after, Assumption would make an attempt at goal but it went over into the sidelines. Despite Assumption maintaining possession of the ball, Morgan Schmidt (#9, 12) got a hold of the ball and allowed Manual to regain possession and take back control on the offensive side of the ball.
After both teams took shots on goal, Assumption scored their first goal of the game. Manual was quick to respond with Schmidt assisting Audrey Donaldson (#33, 12) in scoring.
Sammie Haden (#27, 12) was then fouled on but Assumption’s goalie caught her attempt.
Assumption forced Manual to play defensively and took the opportunity to score. After an Assumption attempted shot on goal went out of bounds, Beatrice Davis (#5, 11) subbed in for Peyton Reed (#6, 10).
Manual was then called offsides. As a result, Assumption scored before the first quarter ended, holding on to a tight, 3-2.
Second Quarter:
The second quarter began with the Rockets winning the draw and quickly moving up the field towards Manual’s goal. However, the Lady Crimsons’ defense and midfielders were quick to stop this.
Once the ball was back in Manual’s possession, they attempted to score, but missed. Assumption regained possession, with Janie Mundell (#20, 12) stepping up to help avoid any shots on goal. Schmidt tied the score 3-3, after she regained possession of the ball, eventually bringing it back down the field.
After a foul was committed on Brooklyn Goodwin, Manual was able to score another goal. They now had a one point lead against the Rockets. Mundell then got the ball and attempted a shot on goal, but her ball went over. Schmidt also tried to score a few minutes later.
Fortunately, Mundell would end the first half on a high note, scoring another Manual goal. At this point, the Lady Crimsons headed into halftime with a two-point advantage, 5-3.
“I play defense and I don’t get a lot of scoring opportunities, and I got one and scored. It felt good to be needed on defense and add something to the team,” Mundell said.
Third Quarter:
To start out the second half, Manual won the ball during the draw, which Haden to score twice in a short amount of time. Assumption was quick to score after Haden, however. After forcing the Lady Crimsons to play tireless defense, the Rockets would score once more. The score was now 7-5, with Manual still maintaining their lead.
The third quarter would end with two back-to-back fouls called on Schmidt and by Manual’s goalie Shaina Silliman (#51, 12). Ultimately, both of these fouls allowed the Rockets to score and suddenly bring the score to a tie.
Fourth Quarter:
Assumption won the ball to begin the fourth quarter, and after a little back-and-forth fighting for the ball, a timeout was called by Manual.
Once play resumed, both teams attempted shots on goal, which were saved by their respective goalies.
Ava Schickel (#16, 10) then had possession of the ball, but was suddenly surrounded by the Rockets. With the added pressure, Assumption ultimately came out of the scuffle with the ball. . This allowed the Rockets to gain possession of the ball with better field position near Manual’s goal. .
However, Manual defense wasn’t about to give up. Continuous hustle and loud communication helped slow down any Assumption momentum. While the Rockets attempted one shot on goal, it was caught by Silliman.
The final point of the game would be made by Schmidt, who score off of an assist by Nora Ruscoe (#7, 11). With one minute left, Manual would get a hold of the ball after Mundell was fouled, ultimately choosing to let the clock run out, winning the game as a result.
“We played as a team. It was really nice to see the team overcome adversity in a lot of situations, adversity reveals character,” head coach Dean Walker said.
The varsity team’s next game will be against Center Grove this Saturday at Center Grove High School at 10:30 a.m.
