Nye, Mulitalo, Defense Lead RC Girs Laxers
With a strong defensive effort and a solid offense, the Rockbridge County High School girls lacrosse team earned a 16-7 home win over Blacksburg on Monday of last week in Lexington.
Anna Nye led the Wildcats (8-1) with six goals, while Lola Mulitalo scored five goals to help RC win its sixth consecutive game. It was the first loss of the season for the Bruins (8-1).
“It is always a scrappy game when we play Blacksburg, but the Rockbridge players handled the pressure well,” said RC head coach Susan Nye.
The game was a rematch of last year’s Region 4D championship game, which the Wildcats won 20-7.
In last Monday’s game, Blacksburg’s Lucy Stewart scored the first goal just over two minutes in, but Mulitalo responded with a goal to tie the game at 1-1 about 20 seconds later. Nye scored with 7:07 left in the first quarter to give RC a 2-1 lead, and the Wildcats scored four more goals to take a 6-2 lead into the second quarter. The Wildcats continued to extend their lead and were up 11-4 at halftime.
In the third quarter, RC outscored Blacksburg 2-1 to take a 13-5 lead into the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats stayed comfortably ahead for the rest of the game.
Helping the Wildcats’ offense was Emma McKnight with three goals, while Adrianna Grue and Laura Ingram each scored one goal.
RC sophomore goalie Ellie McKnight made eight saves, while Anna Nye had a season-high nine caused turnovers. Coach Nye noted that nine different Wildcats each collected at least one groundball. Grace Jensen and Braylen Polly led RC with three ground balls each.
Praising her team’s defense, Coach Nye, who earned her 102nd career win, said, “This game, the defense was the most solid. We were doing well on the slides. We were doing well on one-on-ones. Honestly, Anna [Nye] did a great job on knockdowns and interceptions. I think, overall, the defense is just really starting to play well.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to have a home game against William Byrd on Monday and will play host to Cave Spring tonight, Wednesday, before playing host to Albemarle on Monday, with the varsity games only at 6 p.m. Due to artificial turf being installed at RC’s home field, Prasnicki-Ross Field, the Wildcats’ lacrosse and soccer teams will play some of their remaining home games at The Fields at Southern Virginia University. For updated locations, visit www.thenews-gazette.com.
WILDCAT SENIOR attacker Lola Mulitalo watches as Blacksburg goalie Samantha Henry catches the ball. Mulitalo scored five goals. (Stephanie MikelsBlevins photo)
RC JUNIOR Laura Ingram runs with the ball while Blacksburg’s Elle Piechoski guards her. Ingram scored one goal. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
