Both East and Colorado Academy ran the gamut of emotions Thursday, but it was the Angels, behind an eight-goal performance from senior Nellie Hayes who prevailed 16-13 in overtime in the first round of the girls lacrosse tournament at Slater Field.
“It was just important to keep possession and keep level-headed and just make sure everybody was looking up,” said Hayes, who scored two goals and had an assist in the six-minute overtime session.
The Angels (8-7), who lost 11-7 to Academy in the regular season and 17-7 in last year’s quarterfinals, will play the winner of today’s Air Academy-Chaparral game next week.
East squandered a 10-4 second-half lead, which Dartmouth-bound senior Morgan Miller torched with five goals in an eight-minute stretch.
With 8:45 remaining in regulation, the Mustangs (11-5) took the lead for the first time since the opening seconds of the game on a Kelly Miller goal.
After winning the ensuing draw, the Mustangs held and cycled the ball on the East end for the next five minutes, until a lack of communication gave the Angels the opening they needed. Colorado Academy coach Dee Cryer called for senior Chapin Jackson to continue holding when she was awarded a free position opportunity, but instead Jackson attacked and had her shot saved by goalie Kate Mulligan.
“It was our fault on the sidelines,” Cryer said. “It’s just the way it goes. It takes a whole game to make it happen. … We lost.”
The Angels converted on the opportunity they got and tied the game with 2:38 remaining on one of Alyssa Nelsen’s five goals.
Hayes, destined for the University of California to play lacrosse, scored the eventual game-winner two minutes into overtime, beating Olivia Ross with a low shot.
After Nelsen won the next draw, Hayes hooked up a wide open Kelly Gilbert in front of the cage and a two-goal margin.
“She was inspired a little bit by watching her college team play,” East coach Averill Hovey said. “She worked really hard, and she deserved it. She played an excellent game.”
Miller scored six goals to lead the Mustangs’ offensive attack.
East 9 4 3 – 16
Colorado Academy 4 9 0 – 13
Goals – E: Hayes 8, Nelsen 5, Tuder, Napheys, Gilbert; CA: Miller 6, Abramovitz 2, Jackson 2, Brown, Grey, Quinn. Assists – E: Hayes 2, Gilbert 2; CA: Brown, Jackson, Koehn, Quinn. Shots on goal – East 13-6-4 – 23; Colorado Academy 10-13-2 – 25. Saves – East (K. Mulligan) 6-4-2 – 12; Colorado Academy (McGinnis, 25 minutes) 4-0-0 – 4, (Ross, 31 minutes) 0-2-1 – 3.
