Blake continues scorching start
Ty Rushmeyer - Lakeshore Weekly News
April 28, 2008
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The old cliché in sports is to never look past a beatable opponent to the next contest. When a team does it often stumbles and falls.
The Blake girls' lacrosse team did neither Thursday, April 24 as it crushed Armstrong (2-3) 14-3 to remain a perfect 5-0 on the season with a state championship rematch against Eden Prairie Saturday, April 26.
The Bears have now outscored opponents 68-9 through their first five contests.
Blake head coach Laura Mark said the large returning core of players gives her team an early season head start on the competition.
"We're fortunate to have a strong group of returning players. The core of this team has been playing together for a couple of years so we are able to move past the getting to know each other stage," she said. "These girls really have a sense of where the others are on the field and that definitely helps out. In this very short season, it's big to have that advantage."
Armstrong gave Blake an early wakeup call under pouring rain as Bailie Leutum scored the game's first goal just 24 seconds in.
The lead was brief, however, as Blake's Michelle Tremblay evened things up 1-1 at 4:12. From that point on the Bears score eight unanswered goals; four by Julia Hawkins, another by Tremblay and one apiece from Margaret Chute, Abbie Lund and Hilary Hayssen to give Blake a 9-1 halftime advantage.
Armstrong again struck first in the second half as Bridgit Bergquist punched one in at the 18 second mark. But Blake responded in a big way outscoring the Falcons 5-1 the rest of the way.
The Bears' Hawkins punched in her fifth goal of the night at 7:46 and Tremblay her third of the night at 5:16. Alyssa Veil, Lund and Kelly Grant each added a goal apiece for the Bears. Caitlin Bishop scored Armstrong's third goal of the night at 3:12.
Mark said the early Armstrong goal was a good wake up call for her team as they prepared to face Eden Prairie two days later.
"I think it was great that Armstrong came out and scored the first goal. Even though it was brief it was good for us especially going into this weekend's game against Eden Prairie," she said. "Armstrong is a great team, they gave us a real run for our money last year on this field. I told the girls all week that we're practicing for Thursday. Now we can think about Saturday."
Reprinted with permission LakeShore News
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