Eldridge edged Irish

FIELD HOCKEY

By: Tim Falls
   Maria Eldridge scored the golden goal as the Lawrence High School field hockey team edged Notre Dame, 3-2, in overtime Tuesday night at Mercer County Community College
   Eldridge executed a play the Cardinals had practiced many times to improve to 3-2.
   Melissa Casale forced the ball through the circle to Eldridge, who was waiting in the perfect position.
   "I saw Maria on the far post and hoped the ball would cross to her," said Lawrence coach Candace Mains. "We work on that in practice all the time and it went just like we practiced it."
   Eldridge notched the game-winner with four minutes left in the first period of overtime, but dominated the whole period.
   "In overtime we had exhilaration," said Casale. "We had it together and didn’t let the ball get by us."
   Casale had a go-ahead goal during the first half of regulation play but Notre Dame’s Katie Connolly tallied to tie the score at the end of the half as the Cardinals couldn’t clear the ball with time expired.
   Neither team scored in the second half, though Notre Dame had more chances.
   The Irish led in shots, 18-7, in the game, forcing Lawrence goalie Lisa Tamulis to make several crucial saves for the win.
   "Lisa has worked extra hard all season," said Mains. "We’re lucky to have her back there."
   Tamulis recorded 16 saves overall in the game.
   Notre Dame’s Stephanie Hunt scored first, but the Irish’s lead did not last long.
   Amanda DeFiccio scored for Lawrence with an assist from Eldridge.
   "It just came right through the circle and I banged it in," said DeFiccio. "I saw the goal in the corner of my eye and took the shot."
   Casale then scored to put Lawrence ahead.
   "When I scored, my teammates were supporting me," said Casale. "When Notre Dame scored we weren’t supporting each other. We realized our error and made a change. We got behind each other the whole way."
   It wasn’t until overtime that Lawrence really took control.
   "It was extremely intense from the first whistle to the last whistle," said Eldridge. "In overtime our team came out with more intensity."
   Lawrence came close to scoring at the start of overtime as the Cardinals seemed better suited to the seven versus seven style of play.
   Lawrence’s Amanda Sawasky, who dominated, much of the game during regulation, was able to move the ball up the field even faster with fewer opposing players to get around.
   "We wanted this game so much," said DeFiccio. "We were talking about it all day in school and (the day before). We knew we could do it, too."
   Lawrence gained a winning record with the overtime victory. The Cardinals came off another narrow win over Steinert last Thursday.
   Casale scored off an assist from Sam Citron as Lawrence defeated the Spartans, 1-0. Tamulis made five saves while Lawrence led in shots, 6-5.