RC Girls Extend Lax Win Streak To Seven
The Rockbridge County High School girls lacrosse team ran its winning streak to seven games with a 20-0 victory over William Byrd in Lexington last Monday.
Lola Mulitalo celebrated her senior night by registering game-highs of four goals and four assists, with all eight of her points coming in the first quarter of a routine victory for the Wildcats (9-1).
Anna Nye chipped in two goals, two assists and 14 draw controls – surpassing 500 career draws in the process to extend her own school record – while Emma McKnight scored three goals, including her 100th career point.
Prior to the contest, RC honored its three-member senior class: Mulitalo, Schuyler Coleman and Nadia Gaydos. Gaydos, an all-state performer on the defensive end, notched two goals and three draws in the game, and Coleman had one draw control.
The Wildcats’ run of success has continued during the careers of the Class of 2026, including back-to-back trips to the Class 4 state championship game in 2024 and 2025. Mulitalo and Coleman have been involved with the Lex-Lax Lightning youth program for years, while Gaydos came on board when her family moved to the area when she was in eighth grade.
“Those girls have been with the program for a while. They’ve stayed with us through a lot of wins and a couple of losses,” RC head coach Susan Nye said of her senior class. “They’ve just been really great kids – very supportive, and just good young women.”
Mulitalo, the 2024 Region 4D player of the year and a repeat all-state honoree, will continue her career at the Division I level with Kennesaw State University in Georgia, while Gaydos has committed to Division III Christopher Newport University in Newport News – extending the substantial pipeline of Wildcats competing in the collegiate ranks.
“It’s just nice to be able to have kids coming from our area that are being able to continue their lacrosse careers into college,” coach Nye said.
Monday’s outcome was never in doubt. Mulitalo won the opening draw and fed Adrianna Grue for a goal just nine seconds into the contest, and the Wildcats assumed a 10-0 advantage by the end of the opening frame.
RC never let the Terriers (2-9) get a foothold in the game, producing advantages of 35-1 in shots and 21-2 on the draw circle. The Wildcats also forced 20 Byrd turnovers.
Lexi Samante chipped in a pair of goals for RC, while Grue, Sarah Edgar and Sadie Edwards each finished with one goal and one assist. McKnight and Tadara Cooper recorded two caused turnovers apiece to pace the defensive effort.
Anna Perkoski posted 11 saves in goal for the Terriers, while Katelynn Franks had two draw controls and two caused turnovers.
RC’s average margin of victory during its current winning streak is nearly 17 goals per game, and only one contest – a 16-7 home win over Blacksburg on April 27 – has been decided by single digits. Without much stiff competition from their recent opponents, the Wildcats are focusing on their own progress as the postseason approaches.
“We’re actually working a lot on our clears. We’re not being as successful as we need to be on clears – getting the passes, seeing where the open player is,” Coach Nye said. “Our second goal is actually valuing possession – and realizing that if the girl’s not open, it’s OK. We don’t have a shot clock.”
RC’s home contest against Cave Spring that was scheduled for last Wednesday was canceled, and a makeup date has not been announced. The Wildcats were scheduled to face Albemarle at home on Monday. They will then take on Salem on the road at 6 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, before visiting Christiansburg at 6:15 p.m. Thursday and traveling to Hidden Valley for their regularseason finale at 5:30 p.m. next Monday, with varsity games only.
