Slow Start Spells Trouble for Wahconah Girls in Opener

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Wahconah girls lacrosse team found itself on the wrong side of a 4-0 score to start Saturday's season opener and the wrong side of an 11-8 score when it was over.

 

But in between, a lot went right for Wahconah.

 

"Getting down four goals is tough, tough to come back from," Wahconah coach Kathy Budaj said. "First-game jitters, first time being on a field -- overall, we did some really nice things.

 

"This is a good gauge. I have a good feeling about the season. I really do."

 

Emmy Cote scored five goals, and Katie Bachli made 11 saves in the loss.

 

Westfield (2-1) was paced by Olivia Chaoush with four goals.

 

Chaoush scored once in the Bombers' opening barrage that saw the hosts ahead 4-0 with nine minutes left in the first half.

 

Wahconah got on the board when Jordan Budaj scored on a free position with 8 minutes, 51 seconds left on the clock.

 

The visitors went on to add two more before half-time -- both by Cote -- to go to the break down 5-3.

 

But Westfield got off to another fast start to open the second half, using a 5-0 run to push its lead to 11-5 when Choush found the back of the net with 4:07 left on the clock.

 

Wahconah rallied with three straight tallies from Perin Genaway, McKenna McIlquham and Cote in the last three minutes, but it ran out of time.

 

Budaj was proud of the way her team kept fighting, and she hopes to see the same fight at the beginning of each half next time around.

 

"Not giving up, just don't give up, don't get complacent," she said. "[Westfield] came out the beginning of the second half, and they put in some quick goals because we kind of didn't wake up from half-time, and that hurts. You have to play the full 50 minutes."

 

Overall, she was encouraged by her team's performance, including the 11-save day from keeper Katie Bachli.

 

"She did have a good day," Budaj said. "She's been working hard in the offseason.

 

"Three-goal game, you can't complain. ... We would have liked to have won, but I'd always like to win. Sometimes you can't."

 

Wahconah travels to face Hoosac Valley on Tuesday.