Franklin County. PHOTO BY BRIAN HOFFMAN
The Salem lacrosse teams split a girls-boys doubleheader at Jefferson Forest Monday. Fifteen goals was the magic number as the girls took a 15-8 win, followed by a 15-14 loss by the boys.
It was a stormy night in Forest, as a weather delay sent the girls scrambling with the Cavaliers up 4-1 7:18 into the game.
“The refs told us that if we got 80 percent of the game in, which would be only five minutes of the second half, and it stormed again, that would be it,” said Salem coach Maggi Pace. “In the locker room we talked about how it was critical we be up by half time in that scenario so we weren’t scrambling in the first five minutes of the second half.”
Salem came back strong from the delay and took the lead, and went on to win. Kara Yates lit up the scoreboard with six goals and Lilly Blair had three goals and four assists, scoring her 200th career goal in the process. Lilly is just a junior. Arie Newman and Alla Daniel had two goals ch and Mae Kennedy and Madi Caldwell had one each.
“The girls settled in to a really strong offense and being patient on their shots,” said Pace. “Our defense did a really great job with help from first year player Danielle Rich and Libby Bowman. Kara Yates had a great night and led us out of the hole in the first half. JF has strong talent in a sophomore midfielder and their center is one of last year’s All-Americans.”
The boys lost to the Cavaliers, 15-14.
“We came out flat and they took it to us,” said coach Daniel Dyer. “In the second half we stepped it up but it was too late. I am proud of the guys for never giving up. The game came down to too many mental errors and not capitalizing when we had a chance. Everyday is a process, we have to get better and learn from our mistakes.”
Evan McMillan stayed red hot for Salem with four goals and an assist. Zach Mason had four goals and an assist and Trent Cheyney did a good job facing off.
Last Wednesday the Spartans played host to Franklin County and swept the doubleheader. The boys won 17-7 and the girls, playing second, took a 9-7 win on “Senior Night.”
“We went up by quite a bit in the first part of the game, but then had to hold off a comeback by them in the second half,” said Pace. “Maggie Crute sustained an injury to her MCL which puts a huge hole in our defense, although we have young talent ready to step up.”
The Salem girls and boys are both 8-3. They’ll be in Lynchburg tonight to take on E.C. Glass.
