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Multiple runs lift Warriors past Mustangs

Western Albemarle’s girls lacrosse team is becoming a bit predictable. Like any great basketball team, the Warriors are going to make a run. The only question is whether an opponent will be able to withstand it. When the Warriors get two of those runs, even a vastly improved Monticello team that knows Western well after two previous meetings can’t hold on.

“I can’t really explain our momentum shifts — something just sparks and we all play well at once,” said Western’s Anna Liebowitz. “Once we start going it’s tough to stop.”

Western got a pair of big runs against the Mustangs, one late in the first and another midway through the second half that sunk Monticello 15-7 in the Region II title game.

Monticello had a chance to get back into the game after holding strong against the late first half run. Down 9-6 early in the second half, but with the momentum turning their way, the Mustangs won the draw after an Anna Bagley goal set up by an Ari Slate interception.

Monticello couldn’t capitalize though, and Kellen Haley got Western going with a fastbreak goal, kickstarting the second major run. Western went on to score six straight to close out the Mustangs.

“We really just had to calm down and take a breather,” Fellows said. “We needed to run our plays and let them work themselves out.”

Ellen Shaffrey, Jordan Haws and Jeanette Fellows led the way for the Warriors offensively as Monticello held the usually prolific Abby Wheeler in check, though she still managed a pair of goals. Shaffrey poured in six goals while Haws finished with a hat trick and an assist. Fellows had two goals and two assists and was also a dominant force on the draw with six draw controls.

Christine Fortner had a strong game defensively for Western, coming up with 10 saves.

Monticello had a better offensive flow against the Warriors than it did in the previous two meetings, with Anna Bagley, Lisa Marshall and Slate totaling two goals each. Brianna Slate, Arianna’s sister also had a goal and came up with five draw controls. Monticello’s program has drastically improved over the last couple of months, reaching the state tournament for the first time as a program.

“We’re excited to go to states — last year we were out in the quarterfinals of district,” said Monticello coach Karen Hackett. “We came here tonight and showed that we’ve really improved and we deserve to be in the state tournament.”

Brittany Haun was strong in transition for the Mustangs while Sarah Rogosta faced a barrage of Western shots and came up with eight saves in the cage.

Both teams will get a shot at the state tournament this weekend with Western hosting and Monticello hitting the road in the quarterfinals. A win there by either squad sends them on to Westfield High for the semifinals.

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