Kylie Ramsland led Chapelgate to opening win with five goals and three assists on Wednesday.
More Photos
View All


 

 

By Mike Buchanan
buchananhoops@comcast.net
 

Chapelgate Christian kicked off the 2008 IAAM lacrosse season on Wednesday with a 15-4 non-league win over Howard County’s Long Reach, at Western Regional Park.

As usual, the Ramsland sisters had a big say in the offense, as Kylie put up five goals and three assists, while Kristen added three goals and one assist, a 12-point day for the sisters.

Esther Rufolo also got in the scoring act, contributing four goals and an assist, as the Yellow Jackets raced to an 8-3 lead at the half and tacked on a 7-1 second half for good measure. Rachel Mercier added two goals before leaving the game with an injury, and Allie Kohr chipped in two assists. Liz Blake made four saves in goal, as she and the rest of the defense limited the visitors to just four goals.

“Defeating a Howard county public school team was a fresh start for us this season.  The girls really stepped up their play and worked as a team,” said Chapelgate Head Coach Katie Lettinga.

Chapelgate won the IAAM C-Conference title in 2004 and 2005. It moved up to the B-Conference last year, and finished in fourth place in the X Division with a mark of 4-9 (6-10 overall), just a single game behind Annapolis Area Christian and Institute of Notre Dame.

“We have the opportunity to be really successful this season, but that success must not be determined by a handful of players alone.  The senior leadership on this year's team is phenomenal, after graduating just one senior (Kirsten Head) from last year,” added Lettinga. “At the same time, wins will come only from the team playing as a unit. The outlook for this season is probably the brightest so far at Chapelgate.  Bring on the B conference!”

With the current firepower, offense should be no problem for the Jackets. Kylie Ramsland enters the season with 176 goals and 62 assists, including 64 and 30 last year. She needs 62 points to teach the 300-point career mark – make that 54, after her eight-point outing versus Long Reach.

Ramsland (Cincinnati), Rufolo (Mount St. Mary's) and Mercier (Cincinnati) have all signed national letters of intent to play at the Division 1 level in college next year.

With one win in the bank, Chapelgate faces two upcoming non-conference games, versus Archbishop Spalding from the A-Conference on Thursday and at Baltimore Lutheran of the C-Conference on Monday.

Then it’s show-time, as the Yellow Jackets open the regular season next Wednesday on the road, facing the Eagles of AACS.

Chapelgate Christian 15, Long Reach 4

Goals: LR – n/a. CC - Ky. Ramsland 5, Rufolo 4, Kr. Ramsland 3, Mercier 2, Beal 1. Assists: LR – n/a. CC - Ky. Ramsland 3, Rufolo 1, Kr. Ramsland 1, Kohr 2. Saves: LR – n/a. CC - Blake 4.
Half: CC, 8-3.