Chesapeake Girls Win Showdown With Northeast, 17-10

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The Chesapeake girls lacrosse team earned 2018 bragging rights and continued its early-season hot streak with a 17-10 win over visiting rival Northeast on April 6.

Carson Giordano scored a game-high five goals and added four assists while Karlie Stracke and Peyton Colhouer had four goals apiece as the Cougar offense was too swift and efficient for the Eagles to keep pace.

“We kept the ball moving quickly around the eight, timed cuts, everyone working together and knowing each other’s strengths,” said Giordano. “Just teamwork.”

Alyssa Borgert had a team-high four goals for Northeast, which got a three-goal outing from McKenzie Hynson and a two-score game from sophomore Madison Hobbs. Morgan James added a goal, while Laura Skorobatsch had two assists and Sydney Makarovich and Abby Zimmerman each had assists. Sydney Wingate had 19 saves for the Eagles.

Chesapeake had its way offensively throughout much of the afternoon, racing out to an early 6-1 lead and not relenting. Riley Harrell scored twice and had an assist for the Cougars, who also received scores from Bridgette Tayman and Kiersten Blanchard in the victory. Jordan Snyder had four assists, while Colhouer (two assists), Blanchard (two), Harrell, Stracke and Georgia Spangler all assisted scores as well.

PHOTO GALLERY: Chesapeake vs. Northeast girls lacrosse, 4.6.18

Eryn Beal had 11 saves for Chesapeake, which was solid on draws and defense in building an early lead. Tatum Schatt, Laney Lenz, Shelby Bennoit, Brooke Adams and Hannah Leidig were among the Cougars who played well in the midfield and on defense for Chesapeake third-year head coach Sonny Jones.

“This game here is a great game,” said Jones. “It’s always great to play your rival. We’re all friends off the field, [Northeast] coach [Kaitlyn] Davis and I coach club together, and so when we get up, we’re intense. [Northeast] got up for us and played well. We moved the ball a little bit better inside the eight, and I think that’s where we caught ‘em.”

The game yielded Chesapeake’s fifth win of the season against only one loss, a 12-6 defeat to Severna Park in which the Cougars played well against the always strong Falcons. Chesapeake produced a fine win in a 9-8 victory over Old Mill in late March, and Jones believes the team’s depth, passing and scoring will be key throughout the season.

“We had really good ball movement [against Old Mill], and I’m getting everybody engaged in the attack, not jut the same one or two or three kids,” said Jones.

The Cougars continued the offensive onslaught and added another win on April 10, defeating River Hill 22-11. Colhouer led the team with six goals and an assist, while Blanchard (four goals, two assists), Spangler (two goals, four assists), Stracke (two goals, three assists), Harrell (three goals), Snyder (two goals) all had big days. Bridgette Tayman, Sydney Tayman and Sam Spies all had a goal, and Beal had 15 saves in the win.

Northeast’s 2-4 overall record following the loss to Chesapeake obscures a strong Eagle core and a competent team playing at a high level in the District 5 gauntlet. In addition to a 19-9 thumping of St. James in the South River tournament over spring break, the Eagles also notched a huge victory over Annapolis in late March, defeating the Panthers 9-8. Alyssa Borgert had three goals and Hynson had two in the win, while Hobbs, Skorobatsch, James and freshman Emma Borgert added scores. Wingate had 23 saves in the victory.

“It was awesome, especially beating them by one, it was so intense all the way through it,” said Hynson of the Annapolis win. “They’re always really good competition when we play them. Being able to beat them, it’s kind of like a Chesapeake game, to be honest. It’s one of those games where you’re like, ‘We need to win it.’ It’s a battle all the way through.”

Head coach Kaitlyn Davis is confident in the direction and progress of the program over the past five years, as well as this year’s group, which is achieving.

“Five years as head coach, and each year the talent is getting more consistent, better and better,” said Davis. “When we put it all together, we look so good … Number one, our team gets along really well. The chemistry is really good on and off the field. Our goalie, Sydney Wingate has been unbelievable, she’s been unstoppable, and her playing big every game so far has just been motivating for our team. Our two returning defenders, Sabrina Benge and Maddie Shaner, they’ve been great leaders on the defensive end. We have six freshmen on the team, which is a lot, but they all contribute, and the older girls have welcomed them and play off their strengths.”

The Eagles will have to put together a dynamite performance come playoff time to make a run in a 3A East field that also includes the Cougars along with Howard County teams Atholton, Centennial, Long Reach, Mount Hebron and Reservoir as well as Eastern Shore teams J.M. Bennett and Stephen Decatur.

Chesapeake, which lost in last year’s 3A East final to eventual state champion Glenelg, no longer has to worry about the Gladiators, who dropped down to 2A this season.

In preparation for the grueling season, the Cougars took a page from the field hockey team’s playbook by adding strength and conditioning coach Ben Pardew, who has been a key component of the field hockey team’s rise.

“We started a conditioning program, and I think it shows,” said Jones. “We were lucky enough to get [Ben], and I’m glad we got him.”

The opportunity and potential are there for Chesapeake. A repeat berth in the region final — and the next step, into the state tournament — are well within the conversation.

“Last year, our goal was to win the region, and we made it to the region final,” said Jones. “I’m hoping that our next goal is to get past that. I think if we bring our A game, we’ve got a shot at it. The girls want it bad, and they’re playing hard.”

Giordano said this group, which has been together for the better part of a decade, is ready to make its mark.

“We’ve all played together since like fifth grade, so we just know each other so well,” said Giordano. “Most of our team is seniors, and we’ve all played for a long time, CYLA, and I feel like this is our year. We want to make it to regionals, win and win a title for Chesapeake lacrosse.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Chesapeake vs. Northeast girls lacrosse, 4.6.18

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