By Braedan Shea
@braedan_shea
As a Wheaton College midfielder ran hard into the teeth of the Springfield College women’s lacrosse team’s defense toward the end of the third quarter, she was promptly met by the Pride’s Hannah Hibbert. Hibbert completely cut off any attempt at scoring, and having nowhere else to go, the opponent ran backward and passed to a teammate.
The Lyons tried to rush the goal again. But this time, senior defender Gianna Scialdone was the one applying pressure, and completely froze the Wheaton offense. Scialdone slapped her stick down hard on the Lyons’ stick, successfully knocking the ball away.
But much to the dismay of Scialdone and the rest of the Springfield defense, the deflected ball found its way immediately into the stick of Wheaton’s Sophie Gromala, who quickly caught the ball and threw it over the shoulder of goalie Haley Moody.
The play perfectly represented Springfield’s 14-12 loss over Wheaton on Stagg Field. No matter how well the Pride defense performed, the ball just refused to bounce their way.
Offensively Springfield was getting to its spots, it just wasn’t executing. For the third time this season, the Pride totaled over 40 shots on goal, and for the fifth time, had seven or more assists. But it is the first time they have lost when doing so.
Midfielder Jade O’Connor also put on yet another impressive scoring outburst, finding the back of the net five times to push her season total to 55 goals – tied for fourth-best all time and just nine short of the single season record.
The defense was also quite strong, especially for Scialdone. The reigning NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) was all over the field, totaling four ground balls and forced turnovers. Scialdone is top five in draw controls (five) and caused turnovers (four) in the entire NEWMAC, making a serious case for back-to-back DPOYs.
Goalie play, however, is where Springfield was outmatched. Although the defense only allowed 19 total shots, 17 of which were on-goal, 14 of those attempts went in. Even with a goalie switch in the second half, neither Pride goalkeeper could get into a rhythm. They would combine for just three saves, and a season-worst 17.6% save percentage.
On the other end, Wheaton’s Emily Oundjian was on a different level. Facing a total of 43 shots, and 31 on-goal, Oundjian was a brick wall. Her season-high 19 saves with a 61.3% save percentage kept Wheaton in the game until the final whistle.
Prior to the game, Springfield and Wheaton met at midfield to take a group photo. The Pride, each dawning a white t-shirt with a turquoise butterfly on the back, dedicated this game to the Morgan’s Message Organization.
After the tragic passing of Morgan Rodgers, a Duke University women’s lacrosse player who died by suicide at just 22 years old, the Morgan’s Message Organization was founded.
Their goal is to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community, and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. By normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence and supporting those who feel alone, the organization wants to help athletes who may be just like Rodgers.
The Pride look to bounce back on Wednesday, April 26, on Stagg Field in their final regular season game of the year against Coast Guard.
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics