BEAR — Caravel won a draw with about four minutes remaining, holding the ball for more than two minutes before earning a free-position opportunity that resulted in the deciding goal in a 9-8 girls lacrosse win over Saint Mark’s on April 15 at Bob Peoples Stadium.
The Spartans took control early, fell behind Caravel, and came back to tie, setting up a drama-filled final stretch.
Saint Mark’s wasted no time getting started. They won the opening draw, moved down field, and got a goal from Katie Hanich mere seconds into the game. Carson Peace tied the score, however, about 90 seconds later.
After a few near-misses, the Spartans went to work adding to their lead. Cat Kaminski converted a free-position shot after the Bucs’ goalie stopped Saint Mark’s twice previously. Hanich was a key in the next goal, grabbing a ground ball and racing the length of the field before finding Chloe McCormick behind the net. McCormick curled in front and shot high with 1:55 to go to increase the lead to 3-1.
Quinn Carney added a goal on a turnaround shot with 1:02 left, and the margin was three goals after one.
The teams played more than seven minutes of the second quarter without much in the way of scoring chances. The Spartans controlled most of the possession, but the Bucs took advantage once they did get the ball. Abigail Lum found the net at the 4:42 mark. McCormick got that goal back for the Spartans just 13 seconds before halftime. She was in the right position to scoop up an errant Spartans pass, and she ran in on the goalie without breaking stride and scored.
Lum closed the gap to two goals with an early tally in the third, and she added her third on a free-position shot several minutes later. Caravel, which displayed uncanny patience on offense, turned another long possession into the tying goal with 4:46 left in the quarter. This time, Peace emerged from behind the net after about 30 seconds and scored to tie the score.
The Buccaneers took their first lead toward the end of the third. Rachel Jackson did the honors, sending a low scoop shot past Spartans goalie Mackenzie Fanning. That possession began with a ground ball win and a lot of time waiting for the right opportunity.
The Bucs controlled the draw to open the fourth, and they held the ball for more than two minutes before Peace picked up her hat trick to increase the lead to two goals.
Caravel won the draw but turned the ball over on a bad pass, and Saint Mark’s went to work. McCormick found room upstairs on a shot.
Fanning came up with a big save on a Buccaneers free position opportunity, but she had no chance when Peace crossed in front of her with 5:!7 to go. Hanich answered, taking the draw and racing in front, firing low to the left just 11 seconds later. Exactly a minute later, Marcelle Kappes crossed through the goal mouth, switched to a left-handed grip and tied the score.
The Bucs took the draw and went to the four-corners offense. Absent an error, there was little the Spartans could do to take possession. Finally, Caravel made a move toward the net, and a violation was called. Jackson set up, took one step toward the net and shot. She found an opening low and to her right.
The Spartans controlled the draw and looked to tie, but a late turnover dashed those hopes.
Final statistics were not available late Monday night. Caravel (6-1) closes out a four-game home stand on Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. against Ursuline. The Spartans (3-3) travel out of state on Wednesday for a 4:15 p.m. matchup at the Salisbury School.
Photos by Mike Lang.
