Through its first eight matches of the still-young 2018 season, the Londonderry High girls’ lacrosse team has been on a rollercoaster ride which hasn’t always been enjoyable.
Last week – April vacation week for New Hampshire schools – serves as a pretty perfect example of what coach Scott Walden’s 4-4 Lady Lancers have gone through thus far this spring.
The Lancers pummeled the host Nashua North Titans in the Gate City on Thursday, April 26, with veteran standout Catie Derhak scored the 100th goal of her career. But the next afternoon the LHS team was dominated by the rival Pinkerton Academy Astros in a 14-2 blowout.
In the 22-7 mauling of Nashua North, Londonderry grasped a commanding 11-4 halftime lead and then outscored its host by an 11-3 margin in the second half to put the win away with an exclamation point.
Derhak was good for five goals – including her milestone marker – and one assist in the lopsided victory. Maddy Walden, Grace Chicko, and Sarah Duarte all enjoyed a five-point day with three goals and two helpers apiece, Allie Marsh scored three times, and Meghan Jackes contributed a goal and two assists. Single goals came from Victoria Kelly, Hannah McCutcheon, Courtney Baharian, and Lauren Doherty, and single assists were registered by Jenna Stowell, Katelyn Nartiff, and Katie McCudden. Goalie Morgan Brutus contributed 12 big saves to the huge LHS success which made her team 4-3.
But success didn’t wind up being in sight for the Lancers the next day in Derry against an undefeated Pinkerton squad.
The Friday match was about as lopsided as any lacrosse contest can be, with the host Lady Astros netting the first dozen goals en route to a 14-2 win.
Londonderry’s two scores came with 7:13 left in the contest (by Maddy Walden) and with 1:11 to go (by Allie Marsh).
The academy side grasped a commanding 7-0 lead at halftime and was utterly in control throughout the match, keeping the potent LHS offense stymied and a safe distance away from the PA net most of the way while its own offense scored time and time again.
“Today, we had a game plan that the girls executed almost perfectly,” said PA coach Rob Daziel, an LHS graduate and the first All-American lacrosse player in school history back in the early 1980’s. “We have been focusing on our defensive schemes, and today from the ride back to settled 7 vs. 7 defense the girls just read and reacted to the offensive schemes they saw. We have been really strong on team defense so far this year, and the girls really stepped it up today against a talented, well-coached team. Our goaltending was strong, and (goalie) Dani (Martineau) shut out a good team for the majority of the game as the defense was not giving up easy shots. Dani had a lot of success against the free-position shots she faced as well.”
Kiley Davis paced the PA offensive attack with five goals and one assist for six points. Meaghan Michaud was good for five points on four goals and one helper, and Lauren Lisauskas was good for two goals and one assist.
Coach Daziel’s daughter Madison scored twice, Madison Peredna managed a goal and a helper, and faceoff specialist Lily Auger was good for one assist. Keeper Martineau turned aside five LHS shots.
This week’s slate had the Lady Lancers playing a road match at Bedford on Tuesday, May 1 – after Londonderry Times press time – followed by a rematch with Pinkerton in Beeman Games play at LHS Saturday afternoon.