By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Guerin Catholic girls lacrosse team found itself down early in the Class 2A state championship game to Carmel.
Then the Golden Eagles took control. Or to be more specific, took the draw controls.
That helped Guerin Catholic blast off on a huge run to take a 9-4 lead in the second half. The Golden Eagles then played steady for the remainder of the game, which finished with Guerin Catholic winning 13-8 to defend the 2A state title.
Early goals by Tori Tomalia and Sophie Mock put the Greyhounds ahead 2-0 in the first half. Clare Alic got GC on the board with 19:14 left in the half, but Mock and Megan Houser scored to give Carmel a 4-1 lead.
It was all Golden Eagles after that. Jane Cline put in a goal, then Alex Soucie scored two to tie the game. Caitlin Carter added the go-ahead goal with 1:51 left in the half, and Guerin Catholic led 5-4 at the break.
It would turn out to be an extended break. Lightning was spotted in the area and the game was halted with 22 seconds left in the half, but it was decided to play out those remaining seconds and then wait out the weather.
The Golden Eagles wasted no time when the second half got under way. Just nine seconds into the half, Alic scored her second goal of the game, then Carter put in another goal to give GC a 7-4 lead. Soucie and Carter added more goals and Guerin Catholic was up 9-4.
“Basically, our girls just do not get rattled,” said GC coach Joe Bellflower. “Even going down 4-1, they didn’t get upset, they didn’t get worried. And we just worked our way back.”
Bellflower said the Golden Eagles switched up and put Katherine Constantino on its draw controls. “And once she started taking the draws, we were winning those and it helped quite a bit,” he said.
Ellie Tomalia stopped the run with a goal, then the game stopped again for another lightning delay. Once play resumed for good, the Golden Eagles kept their lead between four and six goals until the final horn.
Carmel finished as the 2A runner-up for the second consecutive year. (Richie Hall)
Carter added two more goals, giving her a total of five for the game. Soucie and Alic both scored as well, finishing with four and three scores respectively.
“The chemistry on this team is just awesome in the way that we can get open and see each other and find that goal,” said Carter.
“Caitlin Carter had a great game today,” said Bellflower. “She’s a senior, a captain. She’s been a true leader for us all year long.”
Carmel kept fighting until the end, with Tori Tomalia, Breckin Hare and Ellie Tomalia all scoring goals during the last 15 minutes.
“You’re proud of the effort for the girls,” said Greyhounds coach Josh Miller. The coach said that even during the game’s last 20 seconds, his team was still out fighting.
“And I think that’s so important for what this program has done, and I really appreciate what they’ve given, especially the seniors,” said Miller.