Good Counsel defeats Bullis on Senior Day

By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com

Senior Jackie Vanwagner had not played much this regular season for the Good Counsel Lady Falcons but since it was Senior Night on Thursday she found herself with some extra playing time against Bullis.

Despite some pregame butterflies Vanwagner excelled for the Falcons (15-2) as she netted three goals in a row late in the first half to keep her team ahead and then added another goal late in the second half to help Good Counsel defeat Bullis 14-7.

"I was really anxiously scared because I don't really play that much in the regular season," Vanwagner said. "It was senior night so I played a lot and I gave it my all and I really think I did pretty well today so it was really exciting. Every goal just got me more and more pumped and I was just really excited so it was a fun game."

Vanwagner scored her first two goals off nice passes from teammates Morgan Stephens and Caileigh Sindall but her third goal was the most impressive as she caused a turnover in the offensive zone during a clearing attempt, outraced the Bullis defender to the ball and then flung a shot high past the goalie for her third goal of the night.

"It was a really good game last game for the season and on this field and this game probably made my whole Good Counsel lacrosse career and I'll never forget this game."

"She kept us in the game in the first half," Falcons coach Michael Haight said. "While everyone else got on track Jackie had three of our seven [goals] and was causing turnovers and was a monster."

Good Counsel's only other senior, Monica Baumgartner was key in a second half defensive stand where the Falcons only allowed a single goal. She had a number of forced turnovers and groundballs to help stymie Bullis' two key offensive players, Alex Aust and Dina Jackson, who accounted for all seven of the Bulldogs' goals.

"I just told the girls to try really hard and it was a big game," Baumgartner said. "It was my last game and I just wanted to do it all for them and just come out hard and aggressive. Dina and Alex are really good players and we just had to stay with them and to faceguard and take them out of the game."

"If you can lock on those kids they might score one so the defense listened," Haight said.

Baumgartner and the Falcons got a lot of help from junior goalie Christina Sheridan who finished with 12 saves including a couple of amazing stops on free-position shots from both Aust and Jackson.

"Christina has been an unbelievable influence and a great captain," Haight said. "She was awesome in the second half and the first half."

Sophomore Brigid Smith scored three consecutive goals as well during a 5-0 run for the Falcons and fellow sophomores Kelly Lechner and Sindall each scored two goals. Juniors Shannon Lechner and Julia Kern scored two goals and one goal respectively as well.

The Bulldogs (14-4) received all their scoring from Aust and Jackson who had four and three goals respectively including all six of the first half scores. However the Bulldogs could not find a rhythm in the second half against the Falcons pressuring defense.

"Their goalie really stepped up in the second half and that's a strong, important thing right when they needed it," Bulldgogs coach Kathleen Lloyd said. "We were getting tired and making a lot of mistakes and the yellow cards kind of went against us at that point. I was very proud of my girls in the first half."