After absolutely pounding its way to a blowout victory of the Dover High Green Wave during the middle of last week, the Londonderry High girls’ lacrosse squad suffered its first two divisional losses of the spring on consecutive days late in the week.
Returning coach Bob Slater saw his Lady Lancers just hammer the Dover crew by a 20-2 tally on the seacoast last Wednesday, April 22. But the locals then dropped tight decisions to both Bishop Guertin and Pinkerton to see their 2015 Division I record slip to 3-2.
In the 20-2 demolition of the Dover side, Slater’s squad sprinted out to a 15-1 lead by halftime and never had any reason to look back over its shoulder.
Senior standouts Noelle Lambert and Sarah Bell paced the attack with three goals and one assist apiece, Breda Holland and Gabby Morris were both good for three goals, Chelsea Lewis contributed two goals and two helpers, and single goals were netted by Dominique Breault, Catie Derhak, June Cranmer, Jill McIntyre, Kirsten Hoglund, and Emily Holland.
However, the locals were then dealt their first divisional loss in the form of an 8-7 defeat at the hands of the BG Lady Cardinals in Nashua last Friday, April 24.
Londonderry led 5-3 at the half, but then got outscored by its host by a 5-2 tally in the second half in losing the decision.
Holland scored twice for LHS, Lambert and Lewis each had a goal and a helper, and Bell potted one tally. Keeper Michaela Kewley contributed eight saves.
In the 12-10 loss to the two-time defending D-I champs from Pinkerton in Derry early the next day, the Lady Lancers trailed 7-4 at halftime and then 11-6 with 15 minutes left in the match. But coach Slater called timeout and had a heart-to-heart chat with his girls, and they responded beautifully by netting four of the last five goals scored. However, their comeback effort fell just short.
“Our intensity level was kind of a rollercoaster ride today,” said Slater. “We have to have consistent intensity the whole way. But it’s nice to have a 12-10 game with the defending champs.”
Lambert finished with two goals and four assists, Bell helped to pace the Londonderry offense with three goals and two assists – having a hand in every one of her team’s four goals in the first half in looking every bit like a scoring machine – and Holland potted three shots. Lewis was good for two goals of her own, and keeper Kewley made five saves.