Cardinals Upset in WCAC semifinals, 10-9

Sophomore Kayla Duperrouzel gets ready for the first draw versus Bishop O’Connell.

Bishop Ireton’s bid to defend its 2014 WCAC girls lacrosse championship was derailed by third-seeded Holy Cross 10-9 Thursday. With the win, it is the #8 Tartans (15-3) that will face Good Counsel on Monday at 5pm on Ludwig Field at the University of Maryland.

The Cardinals started the contest like a team on a mission, bolting to a 3-0, and 4-1 advantage. Holy Cross Coach Kirsten Coleman called a timeout with 14:19 to play and Bishop Ireton seemed poised to blow the game open. Instead, it was the Tartans that grabbed the initiative. When Delaney Muldoon scored on a free position shot the Tartan’s rallied to 4-3. Kayla Duperrouzel responded for the Cardinals, but the momemtum had shifted sides as the first half wore down.

Holy Cross scored the final two goals of the first half in the period’s final 44 seconds and the visitors took at 6-5 advantage to intermission on a perfect day for lacrosse. The Cardinals had played a strong second half most of the season and the Ireton faithful hoped for more of the same.

Kelly Larkin scored the first goal of the second half, but the Tartans continued to attack, play an aggressive defense and Jackie Branthover stopped the Cardinals time and again when the defense wasn’t turning the Cardinals over. Suddenly it was 9-7 for the black shirted Marylanders and the game seemed to slow to a crawl in the Cardinals offensive zone. With 19:28 Ireton closed to 9-8, with 5 minutes to play it was 10-9.

The game was slipping away and nothing the home team did was enough or making a difference. Holy Cross spread the field and played the cat-and-mouse game that made the contest look like they were playing 15 field players. Cardinals chased, Tartans move the ball one step ahead as the seconds ticked off the clock to the final :00.

For the Cardinals (17-3), a bitter disappointment but the VISAA state playoff loom next week. Some consolation to have another prize, a state championship and possibly a match up with neighboring St Stephens/St Agnes to capture one of the season’s two big prizes. Quarterfinals are Tuesday at Fannon Field, time and opponent to be determined. Admission to VISAA playoffs is $5/person.