GRIZZLIES ARE GROWLING

 

By Mike Buchanan
mbuchanan@digitalsports.com

 

Garrison Forest (13-0, 18-3) bolted out to a 10-2 lead at the half and never looked back, going on to post a 16-5 win over Chapelgate Christian in the IAAM B Conference lacrosse semi-finals yesterday, in Owings Mills.

Sophomores Liza Blue and Ali Carey scored five goals each to lead the offense, as the Grizzlies started running early and never stopped.  Garrison’s overall team speed and transition offense was just too much for the Yellowjackets to handle.

The teams met once in the regular season, and this game was a near carbon copy of that one. They met back on April 9th at Western Regional Park, and Garrison cruised to an 11-goal win, 17-6. Thursday’s game ended with the same margin of victory.

“I don’t think we anticipated that.  I thought, and the girls believed, that we would be a lot stronger today than when we played them before,” said Chapelgate Coach Katie Lettinga.  “We watched game footage to work on their tendencies.  We know what they like to do, but preparing to act on that mentally and then doing it physically can be two different things.”

“In the St. Timothy’s game on Tuesday, we came out and played from start to finish.  But today we got off to a slow start; they got too many fast-breaks and it was 4-1, then 5-1.  We dug an early hole.  But I will say that the girls didn’t give up, and fought to the very end.  I don’t think it’s sunk in yet for them that it’s their final game, especially the seniors,”  Lettinga added.

Junior attacker Kristin Ramsland was the lone multi-goal scorer for Chapelgate with two goals and she also added one assist.  Her sister, senior Kylie Ramsland, scored one goal and had one assist in her final high school game.  Liz Blake notched nine saves in goal for CCA.

As far as numbers, Co-Head Coaches Kristin Nicolini and Reagan Raneri had their Garrison team right on the mark.  The Grizzlies came in having scored an even 200 goals and allowing 59, in 13 B games (12 regular season and one play-off).  That equated to 15.4 goals per game scored and 4.5 goals per game allowed.  With a final of 16-5, Garrison couldn’t have come much closer to matching its average.

In addition to the combined 10 goals from Blue and Carey, Alex Goldstein added two goals and two assists. Four others chipped in with one goal apiece.  Megan Mullan started in goal and had six saves.  Charlotte Tracey came on in relief and added two saves.

“We got off to a much better start today than our previous game at their place,” said Nicolini.  “We got some early scores and were able to shut the door early.”

Raneri had high praise for one of her players.  “Natalie Brown (SO, Mid/Def) was outstanding – it was the best game I’ve seen her play.  She was all over the field.  And she did a great job face-guarding Ramsland.  Liza Blue also played a solid game, and Anna Henrich has come on strong.”

Brown had the defensive responsibility of guarding Kylie Ramsland, the high-scoring senior for CCA who surpassed the 300-point career scoring mark late in the season.  Brown held her to a single goal.

It’s on the finals, and Garrison looks like a runaway train, powering its way to the ultimate goal of the B Conference championship.  The only team in the league that has really given it a game – Park - is the next opponent.

The Grizzlies are hungry, and growling for one more meal.
 

Garrison Forest 16, Chapelgate Christian 5
Goals: GF - Blue 5, Carey 5, Goldstein 2, Brown, Emerick, Merrick, Murphy; CC - Kr. Ramsland 2, Kohr, Ky. Ramsland, Rufolo. Assists: GF - Goldstein 2, Blue, Henrich, Merrick, Mooney, Murphy, Tinati; CC - Beal 2, Mercier, Ky. Ramsland. Saves: GF - M. Mullan 6, Tracey 2; C - Blake 9.
Half: GF, 10-2.