WJ defeats Blake, 11-9

By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com

In a playoff game Monday between Blake and Walter Johnson, both teams were tied at five heading into halftime when the game was postponed because of poor field conditions due to torrential rain.

But when the two teams resumed Tuesday, the Wildcats used their over-abundance of energy to score three quick goals and defeat Blake 11-9.

"We've never been so pumped before," midfielder Rachel Skay said. "We were so ready. All day we were just thinking about this game. This was our best game."

"Everybody wanted it," goalie Yasmeen Ajdari said. "I've never been on a team that's so focused and so pumped and wanted it so bad."

"Yesterday in the locker room we went in 5-5," WJ coach Jen Greenberg said. "Grossest day ever. They just came out today and they were just excited."

Within the first four minutes of the second half, the Wildcats (10-3) had built a three goal lead thanks to a goal by Abby Bieber, a free-position conversion from Georgina Beren and an unassisted goal by Skay. Then after Blake scored two consecutive goals, Skay out her team on her back as she scored two more goals and had a nice assist on her team's only other goal from Bieber again.

"I was just thinking that we have to win," Skay said. "I wanted this so badly. Our whole team did."

"Yesterday her shots weren't really falling for her and she was frustrated," Grennberg said. "I grabbed her before the game today and was like, 'you know you can score.' She wanted it all over the field."

With her teammates building a lead, Ajdari stepped up her performance and became a brick-wall for the Wildcats. Ajdari stopped a number of free-position shots and a couple in-tight opportunities for the Bengals. She was credited with seven saves in the game but seemed to have more.

"Everybody was so pumped and it made me so pumped I just couldn't stop focusing on the ball," Ajdari said. "Everytime it kind of went in [the stick]."

"She said to me before the game, 'I just want to win,'" Greenberg said. "She's a junior and I keep telling her we need upperclassman leadership and today we had it."

Walter Johnson now advances to play undefeated Churchill in the 4A West Championship on Wednesday. The Bulldogs defeated WJ in their only meeting this season but the Wildcats are showing no signs of intimidation.

"We're just going to play our game," Greenberg said. "We aren't going to play towards any other team. We're going to play our lacrosse and do what we need to do to win."

"We got it," Ajdari said. "We've wanted it ever since the loss so we're going to go out with the same amount of energy as today."

Blake (12-2) was led by attackman Ashley Martin who scored three goals in the rainy first half. Midfielders Nicky Wannen and Justine Allen also scored two goals apiece for the Bengals. Goalie Molly Donaghue was credited with 13 saves.