Fairport stuns Rush-Henrietta with comeback win in girls lacrosse semifinal

HENRIETTA — Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Case in point, the defending Section V and state champion girls lacrosse team from Fairport, who rallied from down five goals at halftime to beat Rush-Henrietta in the Class A semifinals on Wednesday.

The comeback, capped by Ella Peers' goal about a minute into the fourth quarter, ensured an 11-9 win for the third-seeded Red Raiders over the No. 2 Royal Comets, in a rematch of last season's championship game.

"It comes down to their belief that they can achieve anything," Fairport coach Mara Karpp said. "Us being so successful last year helped build that mindset. They were just up to the task."

Fairport's win signals a turn from the team's tumultuous end of the regular season, which included losses in four of the final five games.

Even in defeat, however, the Red Raiders showed signs of their eventual mettle. Karpp pointed to a two-goal defeat to Victor, the reigning Class B state champion, on May 8 that echoed Wednesday's result. In that game, Fairport similarly fell behind by a wide margin in the first half, only to dominate possessions and scoring in the second.

"It's all about people stepping up throughout the season. Yes we had some losses, but we always focused on what we can learn through a loss," Karpp said. "Like against Victor, in the fourth quarter we scored like 10 goals (sic). So we were working on how to find our groove earlier in the game that'll lead us to be on the other side, of not losing by two but winning by two. That all prepares you for this moment.

"I hate losing more than anybody, but I do think you learn a lot of lessons through losing."

Follow along: Section V girls lacrosse tournament scores

When considering its next opponent, Fairport's key might not be what's been learned, but what can be replicated. The Red Raiders will face fourth-seeded Pittsford -- a team Fairport defeated 12-8 in late April -- in Tuesday's Class A championship.

While Pittsford, which defeated top seed Penfield in the other Class A semifinal, entered sectionals with a record below .500, the Panthers approach the title game with as much championship experience as any team in Section V. Since 2010, Pittsford has appeared in 11 of 13 Class A championship games and exited with eight titles.

Ella Peers excels in new role

Fairport was dealt significant blows due to injuries this season, including two losses at arguably the sports' most important position. The Red Raiders entered the season expecting that junior Lily Kondas and sophomore Ellie Miller would be the team's primary draw-takers but Kondas was lost four games into the season while Miller has been inactive since late April.

While Peers isn't a complete newbie to the position -- Karpp noted that she was thrown into the fire several times during the team's 2023 postseason run -- there were some hiccups along the way.

"At first I wasn't using the draw stick, but then I started using it and we kinda just kept getting (the ball)," Peers said. "It was awesome to see such hard work make a difference."

While Rush-Henrietta had the upper hand in the first half, Peers was untouchable in the second. She finished with 11 draw controls, one short of a season high, in addition to four goals.

Her final tally, converted with 10:54 remaining in regulation, served as the game-winner.

"Ella is one of our more adaptable players and rises to the occasion in big moments," Karpp said. "I was really proud of our draw team, which includes Lily and Ellie. We've been pounding the pavement on our options and made several changes leading into the second half. In these games you have to be OK with making a change and letting the girls rise to the occasion, and I think they did that."

Goalie split pays dividends

After losing 2023 All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year Jaelyne Twomey to graduation, Fairport turned to two new faces in the cage in 2024: Senior Taylor Frank and sophomore Marisa Test.

The pair effectively split time during the regular season, and that trend continued in the first game of sectionals. Frank was awarded the start, but responsibilities flipped to Test in the second half.

Chances against were limited -- Rush-Henrietta didn't gain a possession for nearly eight minutes to start the fourth quarter -- but Test denied both of the late shot attempts she faced to preserve the lead.

"Marisa and Taylor ... they're like two peas in a pod," Mallaber said. "They complement each other and I feel like one steps up when the other is having a rough time. That's kinda been the whole season. Marisa, yes she's young but she's really good, and Taylor's an amazing goalie too."

Facts and figures

• Fairport makes its fifth championship game in program history, according to Section V athletics. The Red Raiders have won two of their four trips (2009, 2023). One of the losses was against Pittsford in 2016, the only time prior to this season the teams have played for the section title.

• Peers (four goals) and sophomore Camryn DuBose (three goals) both joined the 40-goal club on Wednesday. Mallaber (three goals versus Rush-Henrietta, 39 on the season) isn't far behind.

• Rush-Henrietta sophomore Kate DeWald finishes the spring with 107 draw controls, currently sixth among all Section V players. The attack has been a member of the Royal Comets' varsity team since seventh grade.

• Tuesday's championship will mark the third consecutive season that Fairport and Pittsford have met in sectionals. The Red Raiders earned a 9-6 win in the 2023 Class A semifinals, while the Panthers were on the winning end of a 10-9 overtime thriller the previous year.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Fairport stuns Rush-Henrietta in Section V girls lacrosse semifinal