The Stephen Decatur girls lax squad squares off against its toughest opponent all season today — Queen Anne’s County.
The two teams have 6-0 records and unfathomable goal differential. Queen Anne’s has scored a conference high 115 goals, while only allowing 19, but the Seahawks match them. Just 15 goals behind for a plus-80 difference.
Seahawks’ head coach Bob Musitano said it will all be about controlling Lions’ Kaylee German. The offense runs through her, along with a rotation around the crease with picks. It’s very active, and if the refs are calling every check a foul, it could cause a problem, Musitano said.
“If legal checks are called, instead of every check being called, then I think we’ll be OK because our defense is very strong and very fast,” he said.
Here are two more key factors to focus on in Wednesday’s matchup:
Dominating defenders
Katie Collins, Jenna Leitgeb, Hannah Proctor and Ally Beck have been keeping the ball away from goalkeeper Jillian Petito all season.
Now that they face the most potent team in the Bayside, Proctor said success will come from keeping the same mentality. Queen Anne’s crease rolling will force the Seahawks to stay disciplined.
“Queen Anne’s has a lot of crease rolling and one-on-ones,” she said. “If we just stick together and play good team defense like we always do, we’ll make them mess up and drop the ball. We always have good defense around the crease.”
The Seahawks boasts speed, physicality and pure ability to cover attackers straight up.
Proctor said they are not going to be pushed around by anyone, and that is part of the mind game of lacrosse.
“Every game is a new game and we know that,” Proctor said. “It doesn’t matter if we had beat this team 20-2 (last year). They could have come back and gotten amazing. Every game we just have to clear our mind and thing this could be the team that takes us down or we could be the team that takes them down.”
Transition turmoil
The fast-break game has led to a lot of quick scores for the Seahawks this season. However, it will not be that easy against the Lions.
Payton VanKirk, Sammi Quilter and Cassidy Remmell have owned the center part of the field.
“The transition game needs to be settle unless there is a good fast break opportunity, Not forced,” Musitano said. “If the transition works like it should, our offense will be there. We can score goals.”
Quilter said the midfield will try to optimize each opportunity by not forcing it and taking its time.
Speed and stick skills have prospered under the veteran group, and the time the three midfielder have spent together has benefited them greatly, Quilter added.
“There defense is fairly good,” Quilter said. “I have a friend who is one of best defenders, and I know they are ready to shut us down and we can’t let that happen.”
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