1st round win sends team on road to E. Longmeadow
THE MELROSE High girls’ lacrosse team had plenty to celebrate when they beat Mansfield, 15-5, on Saturday in the Div. 2 Playoff opener. (Dan Murphy photo murphymedigroup.org)
After press time:
Melrose falls to East Longmeadow 18-9 (June 5)
Published June 7, 2024
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was the perfect night for lacrosse when No. 11 seed Melrose High girls’ lacrosse hosted No. 22 seed Mansfield (12-5) in the Div. 2 playoff opener under the lights at Fred Green Field on Saturday, June 1 in a double billing with the MHS boys’ team. And it was the perfect outcome: a 10-5 win that punched their ticket Sweet 16 action to be held on the road against East Longmeadow on Wednesday (post deadline.)
Melrose was led in scoring by Chloe Arnold, who had 4 goals, followed by Jill Frawley and Allison Doherty. Melrose’s Lucy Clark also had a great goal to solidify her comeback from a brief injury at the tail end of the season.
“Chloe Arnold continues to dazzle,” said Melrose head coach Alicia Geiter, who earned her first playoff victory as head coach of the Melrose program. “Mansfield is a well-rounded team. I have tremendous respect for the caliber of players they churn out. Regardless of rankings you can’t go into a game thinking you’re going to have an easy win.”
Having clinched her first playoff win as coach was a special feeling. “It feels great of course, following the boys and their impressive win! Having two home playoff games on a Saturday back to back is like an 80s movie dream come true. But we’re not the ones out on that field playing and doing the physical work. At the end of the day it’s always the girls.”
Melrose took a lead early with a few goals, but Mansfield quickly managed to control much of the first half. “We got up early but they came back and contested everything,” says the coach. “They were tall, quick and hustlers. I’m glad that was our first play off game because it showed the girls nothing comes easy.”
Melrose senior captain goalie Sophia Hitchman did the job in the net with 12 saves over the night. Notes her coach, “She had a great game. She was just ‘on’ and energized. It’s so good to see that mentality in a goalie especially during these critical games.”
After the two teams traded goals in first half, Melrose shifted things in the third quarter. Says Geiter, “I think things clicked for the girls. I saw a different level of play and will to win. I’m proud of them for recognizing there needed to be a change and then do it.”
One playmaker who helped lead that late-game revival was junior Jill Frawley. Upon a checked drive call, she used that motivation to hunt down the ball, which fueled a game-winning drive. “She made it her mission to get the ball back,” says her coach. “Mansfield made it all of three steps before Jill caused a turnover and converted it to an assisted goal. That changed the tide.”
Melrose defense then took care of the job, holding Mansfield scoreless for the entire third quarter and only allowed two goals total in the second half. “After that, things were smooth sailing,” agrees Geiter.
Moving on, Melrose will travel to face No. 6 seed East Longmeadow in Round of 16 Play. That game was slated at press time to take place on Wednesday, June 5 on the road at 7:00 p.m. Coach Geiter predicts a talented Spartan team, who is historically tough.
“They have a high level of play,” she says. “They’re fast and pressure all over the field. There’s honestly nothing better than tournament play in my mind and I live for this. This is when teams should come alive and I want that for our girls. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow I’m so proud of these girls and Melrose lacrosse as a whole. Send all your good vibes and well wishes our way because we’re coming and ready to go!”
Fans are encouraged to visit our social media pages and the MIAA website for up to date tournament information.
