Rogers Leads Lady Spartans To Regional Final
ASHBURN, VA - It was put up or shut up time Monday night, as the Broad Run Spartans girls' lacrosse squad faced the Rockbridge County Wildcats in the Region 2 semifinals.
The Spartans struck first with 24:07 left in the first half when Aubrey Neuhart scored, putting the Spartans up 1-0. Meredith Rodgers, coming off a six goal game, scored the second goal for the Spartans with 20:49 to go, continuing the Spartans' run. The Wildcats responded with 19:08 left in the first half when Kathleen Wager scored. The Spartans quickly responded, as Kailey Phillips scored with 18:40 to go and the Spartans extended their lead to 4-1 with a goal by Kate Sistare with 16:23 left.
The Wildcats cut into the lead again as Wager scored her second goal with 15:10, leaving the score 4-2. However, the Spartans answered right back, as Sistare scored for the second time on the night with 12:18 to go. With 5: 17 left, Nina Dunay got on the board with her first goal for the Spartans, giving them a four goal lead. With under 2:00 to go, Rodgers scored her second goal of the night, bringing the score to 7-2. The Wildcats went into the half on a good note as Beth Luder nailed a goal shortly before the clock expired, leaving the score 7-3 going into the locker room.
Mary Beth Mitesser opened the second half scoring for the Spartans with 21:30 left in third quarter. Just ten seconds later, Rodgers achieved the hat trick, bringing the score to 9-3 in favor of the Spartans. With 14:36 to go, the nail was hammered into the coffin, as Sistare scored her third goal of the night, bringing the score to 10-3. The Spartans won 16-4 and advanced to the Regional finals.
"We had a rough start, but we improved once we started passing the ball more, and that was definitely the key," said Broad Run head coach Jen Melhuish after the game.
Chick-fil-A Players of the Game:
Broad Run: Allison Bogle, goalie
Only allowing four goals on the night, including just one in the second half, Bogle proved to be a dominant force for the Spartans Monday night. As the region finals and state playoffs approach, her play in between the pipes will be key for the Spartans' success.
Rockbridge: Kathleen Wager
The junior had two goals on the night, and helped keep the game close in the first half for the Wildcats. She has been a dominant force on the team the entire year, and will prove to be a valuable asset as the young Wildcat squad hopes to make even more noise next year under her leadership.
