Lions regain form with bounce-back win

CENTREVILLE — Yes, its opponent was different.

But so was its execution on both ends of the field.

“I think we were more cohesive and we played a lot more calmly,” Lions senior defender Faith Novak said. “Still intense. But more calm to the point where we could communicate, stay in our zones, and really just work more as a unit than individual defense.”

That was apparent early Friday night, as Queen Anne’s County High’s girls lacrosse team — three days after losing to Stephen Decatur — held a red-hot North Caroline team to its lowest goal total of the season during a convincing 15-4 victory on senior night at Lions Stadium.

“It’s Queen Anne’s. They are a powerhouse,” North Caroline head coach Mandie Shockley said after the two-time defending Bayside Conference champions had ended her team’s five-game winning streak. “We knew what to expect. They just outplayed us.”

It was the Lions who had their five-game win streak ended Tuesday night as Decatur earned a 10-7 victory over Queen Anne’s. Head coach Kesley Fitzgerald’s bunch certainly appeared to have shaken off that rare conference loss Friday, as they spotted the Bulldogs the game’s first goal then proceeded to score the next 12.

“We take a lot of pride in our preparation and I feel at practice (Wednesday and Thursday) we were all working to fix our flaws,” Novak said. “And I think that really showed how much we worked to fix what we needed to work on. Like our transition looked a lot better. We were more comfortable with it. We were more comfortable with taking pressure, and I feel that led us to the win.”

The Bulldogs (5-2 overall, 1-1 North Bayside), who averaged 17.4 goals an outing during their five-game win streak, took a 1-0 lead 4:23 into the game, when Claire Blue scored on a free-position opportunity.

It would be almost another 32 minutes of play before North Caroline put another shot past Queen Anne’s goalie Maddie George (five saves), as Reece Bisesi scored 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, ending the Lions’ streak of 12 consecutive goals.

“The draw,” Shockley said. “Every other game we’ve played we’ve dominated the draw and we just could not get it. I think we got five, maybe six. And Queen Anne’s is a team, they don’t drop the ball. They definitely dominated the draw (winning 13). It was hard for us to get it back. We had a few, but we just had a lot of trouble getting to the net. They played hard.”

The Lions (6-2, 2-0) also played with a longtime trademark of Fitzgerald’s teams — patience.

“More calm. More patience,” Fitzgerald said. “There were a few times where we still looked for that first push on the shot or pass.”

But those times were far outnumbered by Queen Anne’s Baillie Pinder (four goals, four assists) and RJ Ensor (three goals, four assists) waiting and finding teammates either cutting toward the goal or finding a small opening in Caroline’s defense.

“Off-ballers were working a lot better tonight seeing things,” said Fitzgerald, whose team has now won six of seven. “More communication. More composure. I think a turning point was they realized, we take it in, get your cut, and if you don’t like what you see, pull it back out and then find something else.”

After being held to just one first-quarter goal — that coming with 3:20 left in the opening period when Riley Klepper (game-high five goals) converted a Pinder dish to tie the game at 1-1, Queen Anne’s blew open the game, outscoring the Bulldogs 7-0 in the second quarter and 4-0 in the third.

“We went to practice and we knew we had work to do,” Pinder said. “I think this time we had a lot more patience and trust in ourselves with the ball. And we just wanted to come out and prove ourselves after the last game. Especially in the second half on offense. I could feel us a lot more calm. And we knew what we were going to do. We weren’t playing as frantic. We looked for the best thing and didn’t force anything.”

Ensor ignited the Lions’ 8-0 second quarter when she set up the first of Pinder’s four goals 31 seconds into the period. Less than 2 minutes later, Ensor juked defenders and beat North Caroline goalie Ashleigh Lawry (eight saves) for a 3-1 lead.

North Caroline called time. A little over a minute later, Pinder found space off the left post, waited, then flicked a pass to Klepper, who wasted little time dumping the ball into the back of the net. Queen Anne’s intercepted a Bulldog clearing attempt, got the ball quickly to Pinder, who neatly tucked in her second goal for a 5-1 lead. Klepper converted a pair of passes from Pinder for goals and another off an Ensor feed for an 8-1 halftime lead.

Madi Brown scored on a free-position opportunity before Ensor sandwiched a pair of scores around another Pinder goal — the second off a Kaitlyn Horney pass.

North Caroline played even with the Lions in the fourth, as Bisesi scored twice and Riley Walstrum once. Pinder, Kaisa Hickson and Brown added goals for Queen Anne’s.

“Obviously their goalie is a good goalie,” Shockley said of Brown. “Maybe not our best day on that side, but it happens.”

EASTON 10, J.M. BENNETT 7EASTON — Dakota Lhotsky scored four goals and Miranda Stup had a hat trick as the Warriors won for the fourth time in five games.

Emily Currie scored twice for Easton (4-2) and Myka Motovidlak added a goal. Warrior goalies Haiden Hulliger and Zelia Proa each made four saves.

SSPP 23, GUNSTON 5CENTREVILLE — Sophomore Caroline Ewing had five goals and set up three others, and senior Morgan Quade notched a hat trick and doled out seven assists Thursday as the Sabres extended their Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference win streak to 24.

Freshman Emery Zimmerman finished with three goals and three assists for Sts. Peter & Paul (8-1, 4-0). Sophomores Eryn Callahan (three assists) and Avery McCall, and freshmen Kate Sweeney (assist) and Julia Spero scored two goals apiece. Eden Zimmerman (three assists), Ashley Handy, Samantha Murphy and Emma Hainey each scored one goal.

BASEBALLST. MICHAELS 13 POCOMOKE 0ST. MICHAELS — Bobby Fink tossed four innings of one-hit ball, striking out six and walking none Thursday as the Saints improved to 11-0.

St. Michaels’ Jacob Bealefeld doubled, drove in three runs and was hit by a pitch three times. Brock Grow (1 for 1) scored three runs and was hit twice, and Ethan Royer was 1 for 1 with two runs and two RBIs. Eli Wallace pitched an inning of one-hit relief, fanning one.

QUEEN ANNE’S 14 J.M. BENNETT 4SALISBURY — Evan Dickey pitched a complete-game four-hitter, striking out seven, and Colin Siwald went 3 for 4 with three RBIs Thursday to pace the Lions.

Jacob Clough was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Noah Cramer collected three hits, and Bobby McCarthy drove in four runs for Queen Anne’s County (9-2).

SOFTBALLQUEEN ANNE’S 11 J.M. BENNETT 0SALISBURY — Senior Autumn Huber knocked in four runs with three doubles as the Lions rebounded from their first loss of the season with a shutout of the Clippers.

Emily Hirschbock yielded four hits and no runs over five innings to earn the win for Queen Anne’s (10-1), striking out six and walking just two. Caroline Taylor, Camaryn Jacobi and Hannah Martin each had multiple hits for the Lions.

EASTON 16, WICOMICO 2SALISBURY — Sammy Townsend swatted a pair of home runs and also singled, driving in five, as the Warriors improved to 5-4 on Thursday.

Townsend also earned the win for Easton, allowing six hits and two runs over six innings. She struck out 11 and walked none. Leilani Brooks, Olivia Orrell and Gemma Vogel each smacked run-producing doubles, and Kaylee Verley drilled a two-run double. Isabelle Ludwig (double), Vogel and Brynlee Buchkoski each had multiple-hit games for the Warriors.

COL. RICHARDSON 17 WASHINGTON 0AMERICAN CORNER — Eileen Johnson and Kylie Rhinehardt each had two hits, and Makayla Newcomb tossed three innings of no-hit ball, fanning five to lead the Colonels (8-4).

Rhinehardt pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out six, to complete the no-hitter.

Clarissa Peugh doubled for Colonel and Alaina Hall (RBI) and Tyla Dickerson each had a hit.

ST. MICHAELS 12 POCOMOKE 2ST. MICHAELS — Lilly Haddaway went 4 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs as the Saints defeated the Warriors, raising their record to 5-6.

Myla Ramey earned the win, giving up two earned runs and four hits over three innings. Ramey struck out four and walked two. Mercy Haddaway worked two innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit, a walk and striking out two.

Madi White was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Mercy Haddaway (double) and Gabby Pickens each went 2 for 3, and Katie Jenkins was 2 for 4 with a triple and double.