Hylton girls take Cardinal District lacrosse title
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By HUGH RIST
For the News & Messenger
Published: May 15, 2008
It was that kind of experience, determination, and talent that propelled Lynch and her Hylton teammates to the Cardinal District girls’ lacrosse title with a 19-15 victory over Woodbridge at Potomac High School.
Woodbridge put up a valiant effort, seemingly buoyed and perhaps somewhat drained by their upset victory over Forest Park in the semifinals on Wednesday. Ultimately, the Vikings, who have no seniors on their roster, could not overcome the precise passing and blistering speed of Hylton (8-7), which earned an automatic berth in the Northwest Region playoffs next week.
After the teams traded goals for much of the first half, Woodbridge scored three consecutive goals to snap a 6-6 tie. Caroline Strand began the run and Cecilia Pasquale extended it with consecutive goals in the span of 59 seconds. After that, Hylton coach Felicia Mascarenas called a timeout and the Bulldogs responded scoring five consecutive goals to close the period, including a buzzer-beater by Lynch.
Woodbridge’s Meredith Nelson scored the first goal of the second half to pull the Vikings within 11-10, but Hylton scored six of the next seven goals to take control. Mascarenas credited Hylton’s de-fense, and junior goalie Nicole Carpenter, who was promoted from the junior varsity team at mid-season, for boosting Hylton’s offense.
“We started the game getting beaten off the draw, but then after we called timeout and regrouped, the defense really played well and we started to pass the ball. Once we started passing I knew we would probably win,” Mascarenas said. “Woodbridge played a phenomenal game against Forest Park last night, but I think it weakened them a little. We knew they wouldn’t have as much energy, and we took advantage of that.”
For her part, Lynch gave an assist to a burst of adrenaline that she said came to her before the game.
“The adrenaline came like a rush and I just wanted to spread it to everyone,” Lynch, who scored three of Hylton’s first seven goals of the game. “No one person can win a game like this. It takes everyone. We had no preconceived notions about Woodbridge. We just wanted to play our game and if we did that we thought we could win.”
Woodbridge coach Devon McGinley, who returned to coaching this season after a one-year hiatus, said she was happy she returned, despite fielding such a young team.
“When I was out last year, I knew I had to come back. We had a great victory last night and the girls wanted it (to win the district title so bad). I think because our players were so young, they might have gotten flustered…” McGinley said, her voice breaking with emotion. “I couldn’t be prouder of these girls. They fought hard and played to win. And I think this gives us something to build on for next year.”
Mascarenas said her team’s record is deceiving because it includes a loss to Annandale in which it trailed 7-6 at halftime and a 16-13 setback to Osbourn Park.
“We had some tough losses, but I knew our talent was there,” Mascarenas said. “All the girls had to do was believe and tonight they showed they did. I set up the team so they would begin peaking for districts and our speed and talent showed themselves.”
Lynch scored six goals to bring her season points (goals and assist) total to 80 and Tia Daubach added four goals for the Bulldogs. Woodbridge was led by four goals by Pasquale and two each by Strand, Kelly Walker, and Jenna Gibson. Nichols notched 10 saves for Woodbridge, while Carpen-ter had nine for Hylton.
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