ODA Girls Claim Title

The Out-of-Door Academy girls lacrosse team continued its offensive onslaught Thursday night with a 17-2 victory over Riverview High in the District 17 final at the Moore Athletic Complex on the campus of Saint Stephen’s.

In the boys game, top-seed Cardinal Mooney broke open a close game in the second half to take a 10-4 decision over third-seeded ODA.

The top-seeded ODA girls (14-2) will advance to the regionals for the first time since 2015 at 7 p.m. April 25 on the road against an opponent to be determined.

“That’s pretty cool,” said senior Lexi Myers, who along with Adelaide Mahler were on the team the last time the Thunder advanced to the postseason. “It was pretty awesome. We expect this one to be even better.”

During the past five games including Thursday, ODA has scored 99 goals, reaching the 20s in its previous two.

“We’re just having good teamwork and passing it around and giving it to everyone on the team,” Myers said. “We’re connecting. We’re like a family now.”

Myers led the way with four goals and three assists. She got the Thunder off to a good start with the first goal of the game 4 minutes, 12 seconds in on an assist from Jenna Chouieri.

“She hides back there,” ODA coach Kippie Crouch said of Myers. “You don’t see her much. But when she is on, she is a presence. Her stick is golden. She makes it happen on the field every game.”

Out-of-Door, which defeated Riverview 9-7 during the regular season, opened leads of 6-0 and 11-2 before getting a running clock in the second half because of the 10-goal mercy rule.

Hannah Greenblott topped the Thunder with five goals. Ava Small added three goals. Elle LaClair scored twice and added one assist. Chouieri tallied one goal and two assists. Aubrey Robbins scored a goal. Caroline Lafoe notched a goal and an assist. Megan Dowdell dished off three assists.

“For us coming into the season we wanted to provide an opportunity to play as a team. That was our focus from Day 1,” Crouch said. “For us to have to kids who were willing to play together and play as a unit, that’s really what made the difference.

“Our passing game has just gotten better, and that has created more opportunities for us.”

The more the Thunder possessed the ball, the less chance the Rams (13-5) had to score. Riverview got goals from Hannah Boggs on an assist from Eden Byholm and a free position shot from Alexis Whitmore.

Source: Herald Tribune