GOLDBERG’S GATOR-AID

 
 By Mike Buchanan
mbuchanan@digitalsports.com

 

(See below for video highlight, interview)

Kiersten Goldberg provided her own version of Gator-aid, scoring six goals to power St. Paul’s School for Girls to an 11-7 IAAM A Conference lacrosse win over Seton Keough, yesterday in Brooklandville.

It was a forgone conclusion that the Gators were going to prove victorious in this game. After all, both teams go by the same nickname. But Goldberg made sure it was Gators - St. Paul’s style - in the win column.

St. Paul’s Head Coach Tierney Ahearn, who used to coach the Keough Gators, but now coaches the St. Paul’s Gators, was glad to have Goldberg on her side. The host SPSFG Gators had a slim 5-4 lead at the half, but extended the lead in the second half from one to four, and played ball control in the final minutes to run out the clock.

Fellow senior Kate Cathell scored three goals for SPSFG, and juniors Illiana Sanza and Julie Ruppersberger added one each.

Seton Keough (1-5, 2-6) lost for the fourth straight game. Morgan Widlake led her Gators with three goals, and Ashley Edwards had two scores and two assists. Jen Mendez and Alex Dresich chipped in with one goal apiece.

With the win, Ahearn’s current Gators evened their record at 4-4. After beginning the season going 2-2 against the M’s (losses to McDonogh and Maryvale, wins over Mount de Sales and Mercy), St. Paul’s went to work on the rest of the alphabet.

The Gators – St. Paul’s version – then dropped back to back outings to Roland Park Country (8-7) and Notre Dame Prep (14-5). The NDP loss might have served as a wake-up call, as St. Paul’s bounced back with a tough 9-6 road win over St. Mary’s on Wednesday and then followed it up with Friday’s win over Keough.

When asked about a possible reason for the recent turn-around, Goldberg said simply,  "We've  been playing more as a team."

A grouping of St. Mary’s, Spalding and Severn are all bunched together in the middle pack of the A, all at 4-3. St. Paul’s sits just a half game back now at 4-4.

Ahearn’s squad is right back on the field today, Saturday, in the St. Stephens/St. Agnes tournament. Then the Gators get a few days to recoup and prepare, as they face another tough A Conference game on Wednesday, on the road, at up and coming Archbishop Spalding.

Ahearn is hoping that Goldberg and company bring their Gator-Aid, as the Gators prowl for more wins.

St. Paul’s SfG 11, Seton Keough 7
Goals: SK – Widlake 3, Edwards 2, Mendez, Dresich; SP – Goldberg 6, Cathell 3, Sanza, Ruppersberger. Assists: SK – Edwards 2, Holden, Schultz; SP – Sawyers, Cathell, Goldberg, S. Hefner. Saves: n/a.
Half: SP, 5-4.