The Hall High School girls lacrosse team hosted Southington Tuesday afternoon in West Hartford.

Hayden Smith of Hall cuts toward the Southington goal. Hall vs. Southington girls lacrosse. April 19, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

On a windy, bitter day, the Hall girls’ lacrosse team came out hot against undefeated Southington. But the Lady Knights used a patient offense and overcame an early deficit for a 7-5 win Tuesday.

Hall – 1-4 entering the game – jumped out to a quick 3-1 led less than five minutes into the game. It started with Emma Keller controlling five of seven faceoffs in the opening 25 minutes. Just 36 seconds in it was Keller finding the back of the net for the Warriors.

Emma Keller (No. 2) of Hall battles with Southington’s Taylor Foresi for a face-off. Hall vs. Southington girls lacrosse. April 19, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Southington responded 48 seconds later when Taylor Foresi scored her first of the game. Less than one minute later it was Hall scoring again. This time, Keller’s free shot was saved by Southington goalie Makenzie LeBarron, but junior attack Hayden Smith jumped on the loose ball and restored the Warriors’ lead.

“We do well on our fastbreak,” said Hall coach Meg Chaplin about her team’s quick start.

The Lady Knights – 4-0 entering Tuesday’s game – would score the next two goals, as Auria Mullins would score before Hall restored its two-goal lead when sophomore Grace Ganey scored. Mullins would score the game’s next two, and Southington tied things before taking the lead on Julianne Bade’s goal off a pass from Nicole DePodesta with just 2:18 to go.

Southington nearly added a sixth goal with just 46 seconds to play in the opening half, but Hall goalie Talia Lesham stopped a free shot.

“Our defense was solid and their scores only came after long possessions,” Chaplin said of the opening 25 minutes.

Farrah Jones (No. 22) and Hannah Ganey (No. 10) move the ball against Southington. Hall vs. Southington girls lacrosse. April 19, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The visitors almost padded their one-goal lead when Makayla Winegar cut in from the wing and found herself one-on-one with Lesham, who again denied the opportunity. Just over 30 seconds later, it was Hall converting on a nice passing play. Senior middie Grace Rocheleau found senior Hannah Ganey who took on several Southington defenders as she muscled her way to the net and beat LeBarron to tie the game at 5.

Lesham would make another big save on Foresi before the Lady Knights converted on the free ball just six minutes into the second half to take a 6-5 lead.

While Southington controlled the pace of play and time of possession for a large part of the second half, Hall’s defenders kept their sticks high, ran with Southington’s moving players, and limited the looks at net.

Caitlin Striff-Cave battles for the ball. Hall vs. Southington girls lacrosse. April 19, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

With Hall down a player, Southington worked the ball towards the net and sent two cutters moving left to right. Foresi, the trailer on the run, would take the pass and continue her cut to the net and beat Lesham to make it a two-goal lead for the Lady Knights.

The two teams would exchange good opportunities for goals, but Lesham and LeBarron were up to the task and the clock ran out and Southington had the 7-5 win.

Despite the loss, Chaplin was pleased with the effort from her team – a team that never backed down or gave up. “We limited their chances to hold them to just 7 goals and that speaks well of our defense.” Southington came into the game having scored 55 goals in just four games – scoring in double digits in each contest.

Grace Ganey reaches for the pass. Hall vs. Southington girls lacrosse. April 19, 2022. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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