MORGANTOWN — No. 2 University versus No. 3 Morgantown, girls’ lacrosse WVSLA East Region quarterfinal, University’s Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium: Survive and advance.
That’s pretty much all you needed to know heading into Tuesday night’s match, other than the fact that the senior-laden Hawks had swept the young but improving Mohigans in two regular season games, and winning three in a row — especially against a rival with the season on the line — is always a tall task.
But UHS found a second gear midway through the first half to forge a commanding 7-2 lead on their way to a solid, 14-3 victory, earning a berth in the state tournament semifinals.
University (15-4) leapt out to a 1-0 lead within the first minute on a leaping shot from the left side by Morgan Ryan, but Morgantown (8-7) dominated possession and chances for the next six minutes. Pressure and ball retrieval helped to generate several sparkling MHS scoring chances, four of which were stopped by Hawks goalie Madison Wagoner before Qwinn Spong finally slipped a corner bouncer past Wagoner to tie in up at ones.
Shortly after, UHS coach Kevin Armstrong called time out, and his message was perhaps less about strategy and more … inspirational. Whatever the words, his Hawks responded in steadily spectacular fashion, scoring eleven of the next twelve goals.
“No magic message, no,” Armstrong said after the game. “I just reminded them what was at stake, and I asked them to step up their effort to another level. And they did just that.”
Two minutes after the timeout, a center driving Becca Chmiel converted an over-the-net pass from Olivia Stewart into a quick-deflect goal and a 2-1 UHS lead that they’d never relinquish. At 14:25, Ryan scored again from an 8-meter penalty chance. Although MHS attack Makayla Chipps buzzed a shot over the shoulder and in to make it 3-2, the Mohigans would never get close again. The Hawks blistered four goals in the next seven minutes — a pair from Stewart and one each by Chmiel and Kelsie Kyle to build a 7-2 advantage at the break.
Rather than play conservative lacrosse in the second half, UHS continued to control possession and add to their lead. They struck again in the first minute when Chmiel found Kyle all alone in front on a fast break, then the Hawks simply ground down the exhausted Mohigans, leading to a five-goal burst down the stretch to put the game to bed. Steward underhand scooped two in a row, Ryan picked up her hat trick as well, and Rachel Shockley potted a pair. Chipps finally broke the streak with her second goal with 2:48 to go, then Lucia Wolfe closed out the scoring.
After the game, MHS coach Meg Lieberman, who announced that she will be departing MHS for a new coaching gig at the college level, was enthusiastic about her team’s performance, but admitted that it’s tough to compete for 50 minutes against a deep, experienced team like UHS with just one healthy sub.
“We just were a little short on legs tonight,” she said. “Long on talent, chemistry, effort, and heart, though, and that all started with our seniors (Alyssa Ulrich and Kara Crum, and Kieana Thomas). I couldn’t be more proud of the girls and how they’ve grown this season. I know I’m leaving our program in great shape — these girls know what they need to do.”
Armstrong loved his team’s response after coming out flat.
“Once we started to get to groundballs — which Morgantown was beating us to early — the rest of our game followed,” he explained. “Our skill is there, and when we protecting the ball better, and connecting our passes, the game came to us.”
When asked about the next step, likely a matchup with powerful Fairmont Senior, Armstrong referenced a different sport.
“They’re the best team in the state,” he said, “and we’ll need to give them our very best — and maybe get them to give us a little. But just think about The Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike was a huge underdog — but that’s why they run the race, right? We’re excited for our chance to run.”
The Hawks will face the winner of other quarterfinal match between #1-seed Fairmont Senior and #5 Martinsburg (#4 Spring Mills declined to make the trip) at a time, date, and location to be determined.
