Foxborough High Girls Lax Post Tournament Win Over Martha's Vineyard

Despite a quick start by Martha’s Vineyard, the Foxborough High girls' lacrosse team took control and made sure to get enough goals during their 18-11 win in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 2 South tournament, Saturday in Foxborough.

The Warriors will battle the No. 2 Sandwich High Blue Knights in the first round in Sandwich, Tuesday, May 29, at 4 p.m.

With four players getting at least three goals against the Vineyarders, No. 15 Foxborough overpowered No. 18 Martha’s Vineyard to advance.

“They were the better team today," said Martha's Vineyard head coach Betsy Dripp. "I was glad my kids finished strong. They had five goals in the last four and a half minutes so that is what I wanted. They played well all season long."

A pair of quick goals by Madison Hughes (two goals) and Hannah Moore gave the Vineyarders an early lead in the opening minutes, but Foxborough rallied. The Warriors' Katie Notarangelo’s (two goals) goal off a direct shot and a goal from Ellen Decker (four goals, two assists) off a pass from Abby Tepper (two goals, three assists) from behind the goal tied the game with a little under 19:30 left in the opening half.

The Warriors took the lead in the first half when Hannah Walsh (four goals) scored a pair of wrap around goals, using her power around the net on identical plays to give the Warriors a 4-2 lead.

“We’ve been waiting for Hannah to have a standout game and I’ve been working with her in practice and she’s been putting in the work and listens to everything that I tell her,” Foxborough head coach Brittany Jamieson said. “Her shooting has definitely improved and it definitely showed today.”

The closet the Vineyarders could get the score was at 6-3 when Isabel Smith (two goals) scored off a direct shot. but that would be the smallest lead for the Warriors for the remainder of the game.

Winning ground balls and pushing the pace, the Warriors ripped off six more goals to take a 12-4 lead at halftime. Tough defense and a strong transition game paid off for the Warriors, as the Vineyarders had no answers for the Foxborough offense.

“We have been working on transitioning all year," Jamieson said. "Last year they didn’t really have the transition skills. I knew coming into it that was something we had to do.” 

A strong second half put the game out of reach for the Vineyarders. Senior captain Kelsie Morahan scored all three of her goals in the second half. Allie Peter (three goals), Decker and Tepper all had goals in the second frame.

As the Warriors began to put in subs and JV call-ups, the Vineyarders cut into the lead late in the game. Despite geting the score closer, there was simply not enough time for a come back as the Warriors moved on to the next round.

Despite an equipment malfunction that saw her have to use the goalie stick of boys’ coach Matt Noone’s son. Connor, Warriors’ goalie Cici Lynch had one of her best games of the year with a 15 save performance for the Warriors. As someone who had never played lacrosse before this year, the junior net minder has dramatically improved her abilities since the beginning of the season.

“Cici makes improvements every single week," Jamieson said. "She’s having a great year for someone who has never played lacrosse before let alone goalie.”

While they will be huge underdogs against Sandwich, Dripp had praise for Foxborough and likes the Warriors’ chances against the Blue Knights.

“Sandwich is beatable," Dripp said. "It could happen to Foxborough.”