Stuart lacrosse repeats as state champs
By: Justin Feil
It was understandable that the cheer that went up from the Stuart Country School lacrosse team when the clock read 0:00 Sunday carried across the field louder than any previous game this season.
The Tartan’s 10-7 win over Rutgers Prep for the Prep B state championship also carried a lot more weight than any of their previous wins.
"We needed that win to make it a successful season," said Stuart head coach Sara Wagner, whose team finishes its year 7-8 overall after winning four of its final six games. "There were some disappointments. There were some times we didn’t play with intensity. So we had to win this game to make it a success. It’s important for them to go away with two and to work for next season."
The Tartans repeated as state champions and captured their third title in four years in similar fashion to last year’s 9-8 win over Pennington. Like last year, Stuart used balanced scoring and outstanding defense and goalkeeping for the championship. They defeated Rutgers Prep, 9-7, in the third game of the regular season.
"We expected a lot from Rutgers Prep," said Stuart tri-captain Mary Jane Sweetland. "It was a close game and we expected that. We looked at their scores and compared them to our scores and saw they were very close. They had the same amount of goals we did against Princeton Day. We knew they were going to be strong."
The first half was back and forth with the teams going to the sidelines knotted, 2-2. The Tartans made adjustments at halftime and found instant results.
"They did a nice job of triple teaming the ball when it was down in the 8 (meter)," Wagner said. "We couldn’t have any breaks to goal. We couldn’t penetrate that defense. We made the adjustments and tried to look for that opposite side cut. It opened it up a little and the started transitioning well too."
Added Sweeltand, "We definitely worked harder to get possession off draws. That helped us to get up by more and that cushion did work out well for us."
Sweetland’s goal helped the Tartans build a 6-2 lead five minutes into the second half. Then things got interesting as Rutgers Prep trimmed the lead to 7-6 with 11:16 to play.
"They had a lot of momentum going," Sweetland said. "I knew our midfield is so strong they’d make sure we were OK. The encouragement has raised in the last few weeks too. We picked it up and stayed with it."
The defense cracked down and the Tartans’ offense did a better job of possessing the ball to score a 4-1 advantage the rest of the way. Freshman Caroline Passano’s goal with 9:37 left broke Rutgers Prep’s momentum and sent Stuart back into control.
"That was really nerve-wracking," said another Stuart tri-captain Noha Ghusson. "We just kept telling ourselves to keep working hard. We definitely deserved it. When we called time out, we said, this is our field, our game, our championship. We just knew we had to come out stronger.
"We’ve had a pattern where people score off breakaways," she added of the RP comeback. "We’ve been working on stepping up and stopping them outside the 8."
When Rutgers Prep did break through the defense, Caitlin Spratt was there in goal. Spratt, who normally splits time with last year’s starting goalie Nina Szemis, played the entire game and made 13 saves Sunday after Szemis broke her nose earlier in the week.
"I’ve never been more confident about a goalie all season," Ghusson said. "She stepped it up. She surprised me. She took one for the team today. She did a great job."
Stuart iced the championship with two unanswered goals after Passano’s for a 10-6 lead before Rutgers Prep finally found another way to penetrate the Tartan defense, but it was too late.
"Caitlin Spratt had a great game," Wagner added. "She came through for us. And the defense was able to get the rebounds when she got some. And our attack scored those three goals in the very beginning (of the second half), and that’s what did it for us."
Kelly Bruvik had three goals and two assists. Wagner also commended the play of her team that will lose the likes of Sweetland, who will continue her career at St. Lawrence, Ghusson and fellow senior tri-captain Margaret Henry to graduation, but there is plenty of talent returning. Wagner noted the play of three of the Tartan freshmen Jackie Gaudioso Radvany, Elizabeth Bucklee and Passano all who had at least one goal in the victory. They’ll be part of the team that has to replace those who are graduating after a fine ending.
"Our defense was outstanding today," Wagner said. "They did a good job of sagging and stopping their fast breaks. They concentrated on stopping the ball when it came down."
The combination of solid play at both ends of the field gave Stuart another championship to celebrate on their home field. It marks the final game for the Tartan seniors, and another lasting memory to go with the Prep B title won a year ago.
"They were both very close games," Sweetland said. "They were similar endings. We pulled through both times. It was sweeter this year. It was my last game with this team. It was my last game for Stuart."
Added Ghusson, "It’s a great way to end. I think we did need to win. Our record, we’ve lost more games than we’ve won. To win a championship makes up for that. It makes up for all the losses."

