Fourth consecutive 2A final with GC goes Greyhounds’ way
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Another year, another state championship for the Carmel girls lacrosse team.
The Greyhounds defended their Indiana Girls Lacrosse Class 2A state title by winning yet another state finals rematch with Guerin Catholic. After a close first half, a sudden burst to start the second half propelled Carmel to a 10-6 victory at Beaver Materials Field in Noblesville.
The Guerin Catholic girls lacrosse team finished as state runner-up. (Mike Navarro)
The first eight minutes of the game were all defense – neither team scored. Carmel broke the ice when Sophie Mock found the back of the net at the 3:57 mark of the first quarter. Guerin Catholic’s Jane Cline tied the game with just over a minute left, and the score was 1-1 to start the second period.
The Greyhounds, playing in their seventh consecutive state title game, scored twice in that second quarter. Mock put in a goal with just under seven minutes left in the period, then Elle Tomalia gave Carmel a 3-1 lead with a score just before halftime.
The ‘Hounds seized the momentum to start the second half. Tomalia scored just 19 seconds into the third quarter, then Mock sent in a goal at the 11:13 mark. All of a sudden, Carmel held a 5-1 lead.
Greyhounds coach Josh Miller said his team’s offense “was really clicking. I think we made a lot of really good decisions with the ball. We made a lot of really smart passes. We attacked when we needed to. I thought our shooting was really good. That’s a really good goalie (Audrey Papay) over there, right? We knew we had to take powerful, accurate shots.”
Seven Indiana girls lacrosse players were named All Americans in a ceremony after the 2A state title game. Pictured: Grayson Navarro (Guerin Catholic), Gabriella “Gabby” Deer (Guerin Catholic), Alexa Dehart (Zionsville), Sarah Gastineau (Hamilton Southeastern), Avery Goehl (Carmel), Sophie Mock (Carmel), and Elle Tomalia (Carmel). (Mike Navarro)
Guerin Catholic scored the next two goals, with Lucy Esposito and Cline finding the net. Avery Goehl then got going for the Greyhounds, scoring two quick goals to put Carmel up 7-3.
Caroline Ford scored the final goal of the third quarter, keeping GC within 7-4 going into the fourth. Gabby Deer opened that period with a goal at the 10:13 mark.
But Goehl struck again by scoring with 9:12 left, then Mock put in her fourth goal of the make midway through the period. Norah Rafferty finished Carmel’s scoring, then Claire Flannagan scored for the Golden Eagles with 2:35 left.
“I like the effort that we put in,” said Guerin Catholic coach Joe Bellflower. “We just couldn’t find the back of the net today. That team, Carmel’s really good. Give them credit. They outplayed us today, but we did give a good effort. We’ll be back next year.”
The Greyhounds have been led by several talented seniors over the past four years, and Mock said that team chemistry and staying positive has resulted in success.
“Positive all day, keep it optimistic, and that really carried through today,” said Mock, a Cal-Berkley recruit. “We had no doubts in our play. “We knew if we came out, we played strong, we didn’t get down on each other, we could come out with a win.”
Goehl, Mock and Tomalia were all named as All Americans in a ceremony after the 2A game. Deer and Grayson Navarro were also named All Americans for the Golden Eagles; Navarro was a star defensive player for Guerin Catholic.
“I got to thank my teammates for always having my back,” said Navarro. “I couldn’t do it without the help of my goalie, Audrey, who’s always got my back, my low-side mound. It’s nice to be recognized, but I know that my whole team worked hard for everything we did this season, so it’s really with them I can do those kind of things.”
Be the first to comment on "Girls lacrosse: Carmel defends state championship"