Second-quarter run sparks Shenendehowa girls lacrosse to sectional win over Guilderland

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — It took a little while for the Shenendehowa offense to find its groove in Wednesday’s Class A girls lacrosse sectional quarterfinal matchup with Guilderland. But when the fourth-seeded Lady Plainsmen did find their rhythm, they looked unstoppable.

From the eight-second mark of the first quarter to the conclusion of the first half, Shen went on a blistering, 9-0 run that created all the separation it needed for a 15-9 victory over the fifth-seeded Lady Dutch.

Guilderland’s Olivia Bigness had the hot stick early, netting the game’s first two goals to propel the visitors to a 2-0 edge. The two sides then traded free-position goals, and just when it appeared the Lady Dutch would carry their two-goal advantage into the second quarter, Shen’s Carrie Bennett drew a foul with just 7.7 seconds on the clock. She buried a side-arm shot off a free-position try, bringing her team with one goal at 3-2 by quarter’s end.

It took just 2:17 into the second stanza for Shen to level the scoring after Chloe Scanlan fed Josie Bullock for a point-blank goal from just outside the crease – Bullock’s first of three goals on the night, and Scanlan’s first of seven assists.

Shen possessed the ensuing draw, and it took all of 10 seconds for Scanlan to assist Eva Pflomm for the go-ahead goal.

The Lady Plainsmen just continued to control the draw and garner extra possessions. With just four seconds remaining before halftime, a well-placed bounce shot from Macy Zeilman off a free-position punctuated a dominant 12 minutes of lacrosse, and Shen headed for the break with a commanding, 10-3 lead.

While Bennett completed a hat trick in the first half, Bullock and Pflomm finished off theirs in the third quarter.

Guilderland outscored Shen 6-5 in the second half, but that seven-goal halftime deficit proved just too much for the Lady Dutch to overcome.

Caitlin Speck added two goals and an assist for Shen, as five Plainsmen recorded three-point nights. Scanlan’s eight-point performance (one goal, seven assists) was a game-high. Caroline Follis and Brooke Ward rounded out the Shen scoring.

Guilderland’s Elizabeth Schafer tallied a game-best four goals, while Bigness finished with three. Carly King and Michaela Luyun both found the back of the net once.

Shen’s win sets up what will be a highly-anticipated rematch with top-seeded Saratoga Springs in the semifinals. Shen, the No. 1 team in Class A last year, was beat by then-fourth-seeded Saratoga, and the Blue Streaks went on to win the section title. The Lady Plainsmen are hoping the roles will be reversed this time around.

Guilderland’s season comes to a close. The Lady Dutch finish with a 7-8 overall record.

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