Girls lacrosse: Highland avenges section final loss to O'Neill

This date had long been circled on their calendars, and there was little secret about it as the anticipation had built for months.

For those members of the Highland girls lacrosse team, the preparation was thorough and each element meticulously detailed, with the expectation of dazzling while in the spotlight.

“They’ve had a lot on their minds this week,” coach Ian Becker said. “The prom is on Friday.”

But, of course, that soirée is a significant event for most students and memories of the evening can last a lifetime. There was a lacrosse thing, too.

The team took another considerable step in its development Wednesday, earning a 10-6 win over defending section champion James I. O’Neill.

“I’m hoping they’d say that beating O’Neill was bigger than the prom,” Becker said with a chuckle, adding that the shindig can now serve as a celebration of their academic progress and accomplishments on the field.

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The Huskies enjoyed a major turnaround last season, quadrupling their win total from the previous spring during a surprise run to the Section 9 Class D final. But they were thumped in that game, taking a 12-goal loss to O’Neill.

So, more so than seeking revenge in this rematch, the victory was an indication of how much this group has improved since then.

“They were definitely excited about it, and proud,” the coach said. “They seemed locked in from when we were warming up, so you could tell they wanted it. They played with a lot of heart and didn’t let the opponent dictate the tempo.”

Freshman dynamo Logan VanZandt scored four goals and eighth-grader Quinn Ahrenholz had two assists for Highland (4-3). Kelcey Whalen, Leah Klotz, Jessica Rendon, Caitlin Becker, Sophie Murtaugh and Annabella Bruschetti each added a goal and Garand Cockburn made seven saves.

Their defense also excelled, denying the Raiders quality shot opportunities and forcing turnovers. Hope Williams recovered three groundballs and Murtaugh, in addition to her defense, had three draw controls. The extra possessions allowed Highland to control the pace of the game and limit O’Neill. Abigail Richardson had three goals for the Raiders (4-3).

Klotz and Caitlin Becker are established standouts with college commitments, but it’s the emergence of the younger players that is supplementing the growth. VanZandt and Ahrenholz were brought up to the varsity team last year and both have taken on greater roles this spring.

VanZandt is a “great athlete” with a high lacrosse IQ in the midfield, Becker said. Ahrenholz is quick, creates separation with her dodges and has an instinctive feel for the game. She alternates between the attack and midfield and shares draw duties with Caitlin Becker

It’s early, still, but the win improved the Huskies to 2-0 in their league, giving them a half-game lead on O’Neill in the standings. It’s meaningful because they twice were dominated by that opponent a year ago.

“To see the progress not just of our program, but the sport as a whole in this area, is great,” said Ian Becker, a Long Island native. “We didn’t used to get many people attending, now we’re seeing a decent turnout in the stands. The girls in the youth program are out here watching us and we love it.”

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Girls lacrosse: VanZandt helps Highland top O'Neill in final rematch