SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Hoosac Valley girls lacrosse coach Molly West loves her team.
But in Wednesday’s Western Massachusetts Class C Championship Game, she just did not recognize her team.
“We didn’t have it today,” West said after a 19-15 loss to South Hadley on Springfield Central’s Berte Field. “The ground ball game killed us today. We’re so much better.”
Top-seeded South Hadley got five goals from Raquel Losty and four goals and three assists from Ava Asselin on the way to scoring the second most goals allowed by the Hurricanes this spring and the most since a loss to Class B Pope Francis back on April 11.
Jacinta Felix and Ashlyn Lesure led Hoosac Valley with five goals apiece, and Emma Meczywor had a hat trick to go with two assists.
West said that her team missed out on even more scoring chances, though.
“I actually said at the end of the first quarter, ‘Playing on the turf is a downfall for us today,’ “ she said. “I think some shots that we’re good at, that we’ve been practicing, going low – and I think the turf may have hurt us because we had some bounces. On grass, maybe they go in.
“But I just didn’t think we had that grit that has characterized our program for a little bit.”
Despite being out of sorts, the Hurricanes (12-5) never allowed the Tigers to pull too far ahead until the closing minutes of the game.
Layla Brooks and Meczywor scored in the final minute of the first half to send Hoosac Valley into the break down by just three at 11-8.
And Lesure scored off a pass from Felix to start the second half and make it a two-goal margin.
From there, the two teams traded goals, neither scoring more than two in a row.
Two Emily Piligian goals in the second minute of the fourth quarter pushed the Tigers’ margin to 18-13.
But the Hurricanes answered right back, getting a goal by Lesure on a free position with 8 minutes, 10 seconds on the clock and an own goal that went in off the South Hadley keeper a minute later to get within three.
At the 5:49 mark, it appeared that Hoosac Valley extended its run to three goals and cut the margin to two when Lesure scored on a free position opportunity. But as the Hurricanes started to celebrate and head back to midfield for a draw, the officials clarified that the restart was an indirect opportunity for Hoosac Valley, meaning that Lesure needed to pass to a teammate before a shot could be attempted.
The Tigers took the ball down the field and got a goal with 5:16 on the clock.
And, from there, South Hadley mostly ran the clock on its offensive chances the rest of the way to put the contest away.
The Hurricanes now get a chance to put Wednesday’s disappointment in the rearview mirror as they turn their attention to the Division 4 State Tournament.
West said there are positives to take away, even in the loss.
“I think that even though there were pockets today, I thought we kept fighting, kept coming back,” she said.
“I’m super proud that we’re here. I think when you look at the growth of our program over the past 11 years … This was our goal. Our goal was to get here. We’ve met every single goal – minus winning Western Mass – we’ve hit every goal we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. That, in itself, is a success.”
Earlier in the day, Hoosac Valley learned it was seeded 33rd in the state, which means a road trip in the preliminary round to face No. 32 Northbridge (10-10). That game is scheduled for Sunday at noon.
