Two Minute Drilled

After scoring three goals in four minutes after a one-hour thunder delay, the Saline varsity girls’ lacrosse team, up 10-7 with 10 minute to play, looked like they had Wednesday’s season opener against Gabriel Richard under control.

But Gabriel Richard exploded for five goals in two minutes and held on to defeat Saline 13-11 at Thursday night.

“I liked our speed, energy and teamwork today. But I thought we lacked focus at times,” said Deb Elliot, head coach of the Hornets. “We didn’t control face offs, we were beat to too many ground balls and we gave away a little too much on defense. Our shot selection could have been a better, too.”

Chelsey Bishop led the Hornets with six goals. Alison Rentschler and Amelia Waters each scored twice. Sarah Ball scored the Hornets other goal. Waters led the team with eight ground balls. Rachel Hysong had six. Rentschler won five. Ball and Eryn Healy each scooped up four.

Saline and Gabriel Richard were tied at five at halftime. Gabriel Richard scored two goals in the first minute of the second half to take a 7-5 lead.  Bishop responded with two of her own to tie the game. On the second goal, she won the battle for a ground ball in front of the net, spun around and fired in one motion straight into the goal.

The latter stages of the first half and the early stages of the second half were played in the rain. With 16 minutes to play in the second half, the game was delayed because of thunder. After an hour, the game resumed.

Saline got goals from Rentschler, Waters and Bishop to take a 10-7 lead with 10:04 to play. But Gabriel Richard responded with five goals in 2:01 to jump ahead, 12-10.

With just over five minute remaining, the Hornets mounted a furious attack. Bishop was robbed by the Gabriel Richard goal. But she knocked down the goalie’s pass and the Hornets kept possession. Rentschler was stoned by the goalie at point blank range. The Hornets again maintained possession and with 5:04 to play, Bishop circled from behind the net and fired while leaping, beating the goalie to make it a 12-11 game.

But the Hornets couldn’t close the gap. Gabriel Richard scored with 1:24 to play and held on to win, 13-11.

Saline hosts Ladywood at 7 p.m. Friday. The junior varsity game starts at 5:30.