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Even Mother Nature seemed to be going against the Manchester Essex girls lacrosse team yesterday.

As if playing a state tournament game on the road (and dealing with a long bus ride) weren't enough, the Hornets (9-7) and host Arlington (13-5-2) had to wait out a one-hour rain delay before they could compete in their Division 2 North second round contest. The Spy Ponders led from start to finish in an 11-6 win.

Like basketball, lacrosse is a game of runs.

How else could you explain yesterday's girls lacrosse game between Manchester Essex and Triton ? The Hornets were up 6-2 at the half before the Vikings tied it at six and later eight. Finally, Manchester Essex closed the game with an impressive seven-goal run en route to a 15-8 win. The Hornets (7-6) never trailed but the margin didn't feel safe until the final whistle.

Shannon Hartford netted four goals and two assists in Georgetown's state-tournament clinching victory. Kelly Burke added three goals and an assist for the Royals (9-4). Kristen Pingree, Emma Cannon, Michelle Reilly and Alyssa Rosenthal added one goal each. Kate Grosslein had an assist. April Surrette made 11 saves. Royals coach Heather Hartford cited the defensive efforts of Robyn Scotti, Katherine Falzareno and Rosenthal.

The Hornets got back to .500 with the victory, as they improved to 4-4 with a 13-9 win over Georgetown.

Haley Irwin led the way with four goals and junior Annie Osborne, who recently came back from injury, added two goals and two assists.

The Manchester Essex girls lacrosse team registered their first win of the season yesterday and every player saw playing time in the 12-5 victory over Newburyport.

Senior Molly Osborne netted a hat trick, while sophomore Hillary Doucette, Amanda Azadian and Shane Gordon added two goals each. Goalie Vicky Grimes played well in net for the Hornets (1-2), making 12 saves.

The team always comes first for Manchester Essex senior lacrosse standout Molly Osborne. Nothing can illustrate that fact more than what happened to her last week.

Representing Manchester Essex High School, Osborne was nominated for the Salem News Student Athlete Award. Each nominee from the 14 local high schools had to be interviewed last Thursday before the dinner and ceremony that night at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. The problem for Osborne was that the interviews were occurring at the same time as her team's season opener against Masconomet.

Last year's record: 9-5 (lost to Pentucket in Division 1 North first round)

Coach: Sarah Holch (second year)

Key returnees: Molly Osborne, Sr. attack; Anneliese Brosch, Sr. attack; Sarah Merullo, Sr. defender; Simone Bodmer-Turner, Jr. midfield; Alex Curatolo, Sr. defender; Jen Bishop, Jr. defender; Annie Osborne, Jr. attack; Haley Irwin, Sr. attack

After the full 50 minutes had passed, the scoreboard read Hamilton-Wenham 8, Manchester Essex 7 but for the Hornets (0-2) there were many positive signs to take out of this tight contest against one of its main Cape Ann League foes.

The Manchester Essex girls lacrosse team was overmatched yesterday against Division 1 Masconomet, but the Hornets will be better off for it.

At least that's what head coach Sarah Holch believes after seeing her Hornets, a Division 2 state tournament team last year, fall to Masco, 22-6, in the season opener for both teams. Due to a scheduling change in the Cape Ann League, Manchester Essex saw Masconomet for the first time ever.