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Despite the billing as a championship game, the Menlo Knights faced little challenge to defeat the Menlo-Atherton Bears, 16-6, to win the inaugural WBAL girls’ lacrosse championship game.
“It was great. I think our preparation was key and I think our heart and hustle just was unbelievable,” said Menlo head coach Jen Lee.
The victory served as revenge for Menlo (14-0, 17-5), who fell to M-A (10-4, 13-7) by one in the PAL championship game two years ago.
“We didn’t win it (a championship) sophomore year, and that was really sad,” said senior captain Madi Shove, “so it was really nice to get it this year.”
The top-seeded Knights routed the No. 2-seeded Bears thanks to a dominant first half performance that gave Menlo a 10-1 lead at the break.
Menlo scored the first 10 goals of game, keyed by three from both junior Maggie Brown and Shove. Despite making two first-half saves, M-A goalie Raissa Masket was peppered by shots as Menlo constantly found their way to the goal mouth.
On offense, the Bears were stymied by the Menlo defense and for almost the entire half Knights goalie Laura Torello stopped three shots, but M-A finally got on the board in the final minute of the first half when Chloe Peters’ shot found the back of the net.
In the second half, the Knights coasted to their championship, scoring six more times, while M-A had a late rally, scoring four goals in the final eight minutes.
For Menlo, the Knights were once again led by the dynamic duo of Shove and Brown, with Shove scoring five goals and assisting two more and Brown adding four goals and an assist. Such a performance has become a regularity for Menlo.
Brown is the new holder of the Menlo record for goals in a season with 105, while Shove is second in the record books with 94 goals this season. Shove also holds the Menlo record for career points with over 225 points in her three years on varsity. However, that record may not stand for long as Brown will have a shot to break it next year.
“They (Shove and Brown) fueled each other and supported each other. The stats and the records that they broke and set this year are just incredible. They’ve been really awesome and so powerful,” said Lee. “They are good catalysts for all good things together.”
“Maggie Brown’s the best. She’s really good to play with. She assists on everything,” said Shove. “Us together is a good combination.”
For M-A, Adrian Holland and Alex Fanelli both scored two goals, while Kendall Eder had two assists. Masket finished the game with five saves.
