SPORTS: Algonquin Wins Showdown

Visiting Algonquin (9-3, 7-0)  held a slim 7-5 lead at the half but broke the game open with 10 goals on route to a 17-9 win over Groton-Dunstable (9-2, 5-2) in Midland A League girls lacrosse action. The loss ended the Crusaders nine game winning streak.

Coach Gary Kraemer was pretty amped up prior to the start. No incentive needed! The prize for winning the game was first place. Plus, the Tomahawks had handed GD their only blemish in their schedule, a 15-7 setback starting the season.

The Crusaders opened the scoring when junior Olivia Penney smartly transitioned from the defensive end with a nice give-and go to senior Lauren Kraemer to Olivia Aumais who beat T-hawks goalie Holly Pim for a 1-0 GD lead.

Algonquin answered less than two minutes later when Emily Hart beat GD freshman keeper Maria Antonellis from inside the attacking zone to knot the game at 1-1.

Scores by Julia Insani and Hannah Lindgren, who had five goals in the game, pushed the T-Hawks lead to 3-1.

The Lady C's fought back getting a score from Liv Rubeski, with the assist from senior Emma Ordemann with 15:23 remaining in the half.

In a two minute span, Maggie Wraight and Stephanie McGovern opened the team's lead to 5-2 before Ordemann took over making a solo run up field, beating Pim with a low one bounce shot to her left.

The teams exchanged goals over the final minutes of the half, Rubeski and Penney for GD and Lindgren and Mel Wagner for Algonquin with the Crusaders trailing 7-5 and this one, very much a game at the break.

"I think they (Algonquin) were surprised that we were still in it," said Kraemer.

GD came out flying getting to within one on Rubeski's third goal of the game but Algonquin tallied the next three goals.

Kraemer's first of the game, from Olivia Aumais, stopped the T-Hawks barrage and had GD within three, 10-7.

With GD down 11-8 after Aumais scored, Algonquin ran six consecutive goals and that was that.

"We stopped winning the draws and that was the difference in the second half," commented coach Kraemer.

"The score reflected the draws were even in the first half. We hit the post and missed some good scoring opportunities. The defense played strong, the middies ran hard, transitioned well and Maria (Antonellis) did an outstanding job," recalled Kraemer.

Antonellis made 11 saves, many of the spectacular variety while T-Hawks Pim had eight saves.

"Looking forward to the second half of the season." Kraemer  added.