Makayla Severson picked up a ground ball in front of the net and scored on quick shot to give the Dos Pueblos girls lacrosse team a thrilling 11-10 comeback victory over Westlake in the Chargers’ season opener on Thursday.
Dos Pueblos rallied from 9-6 second-half deficit and tied the score 10-10 on a goal by Autumn Litten with 1:56 left in regulation.
Westlake won the draw and drove to the DP goal, but the Warriors dropped a passs inside the 8-meter area and freshman Eloise Shea of the Chargers picked it up and carried down the field, said coach Sam Limkeman.
There was a chaotic scramble for the ball in front of the goal and Severson somehow managed to pick it up and get off a shot.
Westlake won the next draw, but Shea came up big again as she picked up another ground ball, brought it down the field and passed to Avery Ball, who held off Westlake defenders to run out the clock.
“What I loved about this game was how much fun we all seemed to be having,” said Limkeman, who basically has a new team this season after graduating 15 seniors. We’re a younger team than we have historically had, but it made it all the more fun to see how many different girls had goals, assists, ground balls, draw controls, interceptions, caused turnovers.
“It’s a very exciting place to be in after the first game. Our girls are feeling confident and I’m just felt so proud of them. They grew as individual players and as teammates this game. I can’t wait to see what the rest of this season holds.”
Litten led the Chargers with four goals, Ball had three goals and four assists and Severson added two goal.
Ball scored the 99th goal of her career. She’ll go for No. 100 on Tuesday at home against Saugus.
Goalie Maddie Nees played a solid game, coming up with 12 saves, two interceptions, “and chasing the ball outside the crease to get our team back the ball,” said Limkeman.
She also praised the defense of Yesenial Valdez and Shea’s ability to pick up ground balls.
“She owned ground-ball controls, getting the ball into our possession and down to our attacking goal,” said Limkeman.