On Thursday, March 2, the Lady Braves lacrosse team (3-5) battled Lake Highland in a district qualifier.
Losing the first draw to Lake Highland, the opponent attackers quickly put away two goals only minutes into play. Sophomore goalie Payton Johnson then blocked the next attempted shot. The Highlanders struggled to look for an opening to crash the goal, as junior Kendall Kearce maintained a strong defensive position.
Junior Kendra Apple won possession of the ball at the draw and launched the ball down field to an open teammate. A Highlander scooped up the ground ball and junior Lauren Shutts hustled to mark her man. A Highlander scored on Johnson, 0-4.
After Lake Highland won possession of the ball, they charged the goal. Johnson blocked the attacker’s shot and junior Kara Gentry received the ball and ran up the line. Losing the ball to a defender, a Highlander scored, 0-8.
Senior Madalyn Benton gained possession and sprinted down the field towards the opponent’s goal. A Highlander stole the ball and raced down the field where Johnson blocked the shot and passed the ball to Gentry. Gentry received a foul and Johnson saved Lake Highland’s shot.
At water break, Lake Highland led, 0-10.
Maintaining a strong defense, Kearce gained possession of the ball and worked it around the back. Lake Highland stole the ball and scored, 0-11.
Junior midfielder Madeline Bogan lost the next draw but gained possession back through an offsides call on Lake Highland. Passing it around their opponents, junior Shayne Maguffey caught the ball and scored, 1-11.
At halftime, Lake Highland led, 1-12.
Gaining momentum after half, senior Alexis Musser sprinted with the ball up the sideline. Senior Roxanne Zachar then gained possession of the ball and passed it to senior Morgan Chambers. On a breakaway, Zachar ripped the ball into the net and scored, 2-15.
Off a Lake Highland shot, Johnson added another save. Gentry soon gained possession and passed the ball down the field to Benton. Lake Highland recovered the ground ball and scored, 2-17.
Johnson deflected another Lake Highland shot on goal and freshman Lillian Goeb scooped up the ball to clear it down the field. The opponent gained possession but quickly lost it to Shutts after a penalty.
Nearing the end of the game, Lake Highland faced strong defenders Musser and Goeb who thwarted their scoring efforts. But after two quick shots, Lake Highland scored, 2-19.
The girls fell to Lake Highland, 2-19. Teammates appointed Johnson player of the game. Out of 38 shots she saved approximately half, according to the statistics book.
The team will face the Lake Nona Lions on the Reservation, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.