Hall hosted South Windsor in West Hartford for the girls lacrosse senior night game.
Hall Seniors (from left): Hayden Smith, Sophie Carey, Matheson Rose-Spillane, Elizabeth Gadue, Sarah Rueckert, Hailey Cyr, and Ava Morgan were honored before the game. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
By Paul Palmer
Things were looking good for the Hall Titans girls lacrosse team at halftime of their senior night matchup with South Windsor. After surrendering two early goals, Hall came back and took the lead at the intermission. But the Bobcats came out firing, and never stopped over the final half to secure a 12-7 road win.
Prior to the start of the game, Hall saluted the seven seniors on the team, but South Windsor spoiled the party with a goal just 90 seconds into the game, and another less than two minutes later. The second score seemed to wake up the Hall offense as their executions got sharper and freshman Lucy Gwiazdoski scored the first of her opening half three goals. Junior Talia Sortman tied things up with her goal from the free position at 16:19.
Talia Sortman of Hall (15) and Hailey Deptula (17) of South Windsor battle for control. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Goalie Talia Leshem made several good saves to keep it knotted up before Gwiazdoski struck again at 11:26. South Windsor (3-4) used a long possession to make it 3-3 with 7:31 to play on a goal from Elise Suffish.
Gwiazdoski finished off her hat trick in the first with a goal off a free position. The Bobcats nearly tied things at 4 just before the half when Arden Sansom rushed the ball from her defensive zone into the attack zone and had a 5-on-2 advantage in the middle of the field. Leshem came up big again on her ninth save and the half ended with Hall in front 4-3.
Hall goalie Talia Leshem had nine first half saves. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The second half started out well for the home side when Caitlin Regan picked up her first goal of the game 42 seconds into the action.
From there South Windsor, lead by Hailey Deptula, took over the game. The sophomore began by dominating the circle, picking up a loose ball, out-running multiple Hall players before depositing a shot over Lesham’s left shoulder. Eleven seconds later she again controlled the draw, carried the ball deep into the attack before feeding Kaitlyn Bullock for the first of her two goals in the game. Fifty seconds later, Deptula did it again with a half field run and goal on her own and South Windsor had a 6-5 lead and again at the 24:00 mark scoring to make it a 7-5 game.
Hayden Smith scores for Hall aginst South Windsor on Senior Night. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
The Bobcats added another before Hayden Smith converted on a nice pass from Regan and it was 8-6 with 7:54 to play.
South Windsor continued to use its speed advantage and scored four of the game’s final five goals – only Sortman’s goal from Regan at 4:47 interrupted the streak.
Hall drops to 3-8 on the season and next faces Glastonbury at home on Thursday, looking to snap a 4-game losing streak.
Anya Leshem (1) of Hall squares up on a defender in the Senior Night game against South Windsor. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Hall freshman Teagan Cohane (57) works against South Windsor defender Olivia Mogor. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Talia Sortman (15) of Hall looks for options against the South Windsor defense. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
Hall players break the huddle late in the game. Hall vs. South Windsor girls lacrosse. May 2, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer
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