RallyNorth.net

Lancers catch fire, KO Salem

Friday, May, 30 By Ryan Lambert
Staff writer

For many of the Londonderry players, this was a new experience. The Lancers, who have only one senior, got their first taste of playoff lacrosse, and that inexperience showed as Salem led for most of the first half.

But once the nerves settled down, Londonderry took over, scoring seven unanswered goals in just under 10 minutes and cruising to a 12-7 win over Salem.

"I think we had a little stage fright," said Lancers coach Bob Slater. "We're a young team, the youngest in the league."

The win came without two starters, who missed the game with knee injuries. Marcie Marino, who scored five goals against Salem in the Lancers' regular season finale, tweaked her knee in a national tournament game on Sunday. Rebecca Bennett underwent surgery on her ACL hours before the game.

As it turned out, the Lancers didn't need them. Dana Boyle scored five goals, the biggest was her second of the game with 1:55 to go in the first half. It cut the deficit to 4-3. Then 11 seconds later reserve Josie Bezeredy tied it. Boyle struck again with 29 seconds left to put Londonderry up 5-4.

 "I think that gave us a little oomph to get more offensive rebounds," said Boyle of the backbreaking spurt.

The Lancers scored four more goals within 6:39 and Salem never really got a great look at the net again.

"We hit the post, we hit people," Salem coach Faith Wahlen said. "We just didn't have it. They came out (of halftime) on fire and we didn't. We got up a couple goals and we didn't capitalize on it."

The looks Salem did get were mostly turned aside by junior goalie Taylor Hadcock, who made 15 saves, including several on penalty shots.

"That's a big game," said Slater of his keeper. "She's come up big in the last couple games."

Salem netminder Sarah Cino was strong as well, making seven saves.

"First half she did very well and in the second half she had a couple fast breaks that came at her and it just kind of threw her off her game a little bit," said Wahlen.

Kyleigh Keating led the Blue Devils with four goals, and Taylor Dyer had two goals and an assist.

The win bumped Londonderry's record to 14-3, matching last year's win total, which was the most in 10 years.

"We have one senior, and six sophomores are starting with five juniors," said Slater. "It's remarkable that these girls repeated what we did last year."

Londonderry moves on to the Division 1 semifinal against Pinkerton. The Lancers earned their first-ever win over the rival Astros earlier this year, and split the two-game season series.