by WESTLAKE, Ohio – The Westlake Demons combined 6 goals from Lucy Rocco, 3 goals by Kaitlyn Kerr and over a dozen saves by Ava Kennedy to capture a 9-5 victory over the visiting Avon Eagles on a beautiful evening for Lacrosse.
Head coach Bill Ready was impressed by his teams gritty performance tonight and how they bounced back after allowing three straight Eagle goals at one point in the first half. Ready had this to share, “We talked about it in practice that it would be a back-and-forth type game. We got up 3-0 and I never thought it was going to be a blowout, so when they came back to tie it at 3, we just had to keep playing hard and stay focused, and we did. It was a lot like the Brunswick game.”
Lucy Rocco played with the heart of a Lion tonight as she was absolutely fearless, she explained that approach and style of her game, “It is really easy when my team plays so hard around me and goes hard on every ground ball too. They make me look and play a lot better, playing club year-round really helps as well. At Westlake, it is fun to play with some of my best friends. “
Lucy Rocco got the scoring going early with a nice breakaway goal for the Demons to put them ahead 1-0 just 1 minute into the clash. Moments later the Eagles incurred a Yellow Card which allowed the Demons a chance at a free position in which they capitalized as Rocco scored to make it 2-0.
The Demons wasted no time attacking the net again and earned a free position chance, but a strong shot by Lydia Tymoszczuk was saved by Grace Herbert who displayed the quick hands to shut it down and keep it at 2-0 Demons. Avon tried to get their first goal but Westlake goal keeper Ava Kennedy saved four straight shots by the Eagles. Kennedy was on fire!
The Demons felt the momentum of the big saves and poured the ball down the field to get right back into scoring position. Once again it was Rocco getting the job done as she found the bottom of the net, stick side, for her Hat Trick goal with 14:25 still left to play in the first half.
Ava Kennedy talked about her big night in goal and shot stopping ability this evening, “It does help to start off very strong with a lot of saves. The whole energy on the defensive side of the team is what really keeps me going. “
Avon then called a timeout as they looked to adjust and not allow any wide open one on one opportunities for the Demons. A brief Avon flurry towards the net was stopped by the stick work of defensemen Taylor Kress. Moments later a possible fourth goal from the Demons off the stick of Kaylee Johnson was saved by Grace Herbert.
After another big save by Ava Kennedy, the Eagles kept peppering the net until they scored their first goal on a free position strike by Isabella Intagliata. She literally charged forward right at Kennedy until she let it rip from about two feet away and scored.
The Eagles used another free position chance to cut the lead to 3-2 on a strike from Ayla Perez, the sensational sophomore with 5:25 left in the opening half. Perez went through the defense like a hot knife through butter.
The Eagles adjustments after that earlier timeout, appeared to be paying off. The Eagles used incredible ball movement and communication to get open for those shots. It led to another free position goal by Intagliata to tie the match at 3 with 4:07 to play in the first. She just charged through yet again and dumped it in over the stick and head of Kennedy, using that incredible reach she has.
Back to back goals by Kaitlyn Kerr gave the Demons the lead right back at 5-3 with 95 seconds left in the opening half. An Eagle goal by Aleena Gallo cut it to 5-4 at the half.
Kerr got it going early into the second for the Demons with a beautiful free position goal in which she charged the goal and then used an incredible back toss as she ran past the net and winged it backwards for the score. The free position goal was the Hat Trick for Kerr and also came with a woman down for Avon who had incurred a yellow card in the closing seconds of the first half.
We are used to seeing magical shots from Kerr on the basketball court, but tonight it was the lacrosse field. She broke down how she was able to make the astonishing hat trick goal. “I kind of have a fear of shooting overhand, so you have to figure out anyway you can possible, even when it doesn’t look pretty, you just have to get the job done.”
Two more Rocco goals gave her 5 on the night, and improved the lead to 8-4 with 19:57 to play. The goals a result of more yellow cards being assessed to Avon. At one point, the Eagles were forced to play two girls down.
The Intagliata Hat Trick for the Eagles cut into the lead at 8-5 with 16:35 still to play as they attempted a comeback. The game then went through its longest stretch of the game without scoring when 8 minutes rattled off the clock and the score remained 8-5 Westlake with 8:24 still to play as Avon called a timeout to talk it over.
The Demons hung on to secure the 9-5 after Rocco’s sixth goal with 4:41 to play.
Our next Feature Game will be Thursday Night at Hudson as they host Hoover. Tony Bogan will be on the scene for that one to represent Kee On Sports lacrosse coverage.
MAXIM LACROSSE is the official sponsor of Girls Lacrosse coverage at Kee On Sports
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