SHRUB OAK – Twenty-two seconds into the Class D girls lacrosse game Wednesday night at Lakeland High between Section 1 Bronxville and Section 9 James O’Neill, Linnea Hentschel scored to give Bronxville a 1-0 lead.
The quick attack turned out to be no fluke.
By the time the first half ended, less than a minute after Grace VanTienhoven scored on what would be her only shot, Bronxville was up 11-1 and it didn’t matter how many more saves the talented O’Neill keeper Molly Kelly had made.
The Raiders didn’t come back.
With every bench player seeing action, the Broncos, who went from No. 3 in Class D to Section 1 champions, defeated O’Neill 15-3.
And if an opposing coach could be a fan, first-year Raiders skipper Katie Graves sounded this way, saying about Bronxville: “They’re phenomenal. Their transition, their speed. …They are great on the ride and while cutting. Their stick skills are phenomenal. Hats off to them.”
What it means
Graves’ team finished the season 12-7.
Bronxville, which, while one of the smallest schools in Section 1, had arguably the toughest or at least one of the toughest regular season schedules, is now 13-6.
After back-to-back races (it beat top seed Albertus Magnus 14-5 for the sectional title), it will have a scrimmage/practice Thursday against Section 1 Class C champion Rye in preparation for both teams competing in the state regional finals on Saturday at Queensbury High School.
Bronxville’s game is against Section 2 Voorheesville at 1 p.m.
The winner will advance to next week’s Class D semi-finals.
Who and how they scored
Twelve players scored for Bronxville on Wednesday.
Charlotte Murray had two goals and an assist. Kendall Valente and Hentschel each scored a pair as well.
And Maddy Williams, Mabel Arrighi, Amy Villanueva, Ellie Garofalo, Claire Melchionni, Carina Winiecki, Ava Toolan and Hadley Ramirez joined VanTienhoven in scoring once each.
Quinn Sheehan, Alden Martinelli and Rose Woolery each had an assist.
Bronxville won the ball after 16 draws, led by Williams with five and Sheehan with four.
Bronxville also had nine other loose balls.
Abigail Richardson had a goal and an assist and Madeline Richardson and Madelyn August also scored once for O’Neill.
Richardson’s was O’Neill’s first score. It cut the Bronxville lead to 7-1 early in the second quarter.
Gabbi Bici split time in net and had three saves for Bronxville and Michaela Doheny saw no shots.
Of course, that was a lot different than what was happening on Kelly’s side of the field.
Kelly, a junior who had 133 saves this season, found herself diving right, diving left and often making saves during those dives.
She finished with 11 stops, but there were some shots that no one could stop.
Some arrived on the spot, with perfect passes.
Some, such as Williams’ goal early in the match that made it 3–0, came from a rebound after Kelly had stopped an Arrighi chance, but Williams beat O’Neill’s defense to the carom.
Bronxville’s speed was crucial.
At one point Sheehan carried the ball almost the length of the pitch – uncatchable – and with O’Nreill’s focus on her, Sheehan found Valente alone at the left post for the pass and the score.
Girls Lacrosse Playoffs: Bronxville defeats Albertus Magnus to capture another Section 1 Class D title
They said it
“I just wanted to get the young kids involved and give everyone a chance to play today,” Bronxville coach Gianna Maffei said of the positive side of the loss, noting that many had played well.
O’Neill senior Charlotte Black, who does not plan to play lacrosse after high school, was on the Raider varsity squad for four years. Looking back, she said she would remember most her teammates and the high level of community support her team had enjoyed.
“I love my team. … They really are the best teammates ever,” Black said.
Nancy Haggerty covers cross country, track and field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy.
