March 11
Lady Falcons Swoop Down on Enloe Eagles, 16-5

The Enloe Eagles scored first. They also scored last. But what counted most was that the Lady Falcons scored more. All the rookies and subs had their turn on the field to contribute to the win.

The Enloe Eagles scored first and held the lead for over three minutes. Then the Falcons picked up their game and never looked back. Kay Kay Keung made an exciting sprint down the field. When a defender pulled up on her, she threw the ball to Lauren "Coz" Cosentino, who flung it in for the first point. Keung drew a penalty and was fouled again while taking the shot. The second try was good for point number 2. Ali "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" Brown quickly bounced back when knocked over. She still managed to get to the ground ball first and toss it off to Brittany Ruppert, who connected to Kelly Reiser for a goal.

After the Eagles scored their second point, it was beginning to look like a close game at 3-2, with both sides competing for possession, tussling around for loose balls, and going scoreless for 5 minutes. Then Ruppert completed a charge to the net for a point. Just seconds later, Deirdre O'Connor made a short pass to Jenna Lang, who slammed it in for another point.

The fans loudly shouted and cheered when Brown sprinted down the field but groaned when her shot was denied. Coz wowed the crowd when she received a behind-the-cage pass from Rachel Chapla and put it in on a quick-stick. Keung, still on fire, scooped up the ball in front of the cage and quickly scored. On the next draw, Chapla sprinted down field and connected with Kelsey Collins for another quick point. Goalie Katie Worsdale, dying to be unleashed from her cage, was checked when she ventured out. After a tremendous save, she was caught behind the cage but cleared beautifully to Logan Kaznowski, who flew down the field and made contact with Coz. A slam to the goalie's weak side gave the Falcons their 9th point. Keung, still hungering for attention, drew a penalty, then when the shot was blocked, Keung bounced a ground ball to Coz, who shoved it in to make an even 10 points. Casey Reiser ended the first half by drawing a charge when she was flattened by an Eagle. The score was 10-2.

The first six minutes of the second half saw lots of scoreless action. Chapla drew a penalty, but missed the point. Coz forced a turnover, and Chapla blocked a crease roll. Keung's ground ball recovery set up a transition down the field that missed its mark. Mandy Blackburn drew a charge. A ground ball recovery by Kelly Reiser resulted in a game of catch that ended when Coz, from behind the cage, passed to O'Connor, who scored on a quick stick. Brown drew a charge. Kaznowski came full circle when she flung a ground ball to Casey Reiser, who passed to Ruppert, who passed it back to Kaznowski for the slam dunk. Not content to just assist, Chapla dodged and weaved as she flew down the field and scored her first goal ever on a Varsity team! (Congratulations, Rachel!) A Kelly Reiser to Coz connection made the next point.

The Eagles momentarily rallied back with two points, first on a break away, and then on a bounce shot. But Coz slammed the next point in on an assist from Lang, who had received the ball from Coz herself. Allie Klavik showed good hustle when she joined forces with Brown to force a runner out of bounds. When Christina Demetros forced a turnover, Lang was at the receiving end of her pass. After her run down the field, a pass to Ruppert ended in the back of the net. With just 5 seconds left, the Eagles had the last word when they scored on a breakaway.

The Falcon offense proved too strong for the Eagles tonight, but the defense was just as impressive. Coz, Keung and Chapla were equally effective on defense as they were on offense. Worsdale was solid inside (and sometimes outside) the cage as usual. Lang, Blackburn, both Reisers, Kaznowski and Collins all showed good ground ball hustle, and Demetros stood her ground and added to the defensive wall. Goalie Cheryl Schlitter blocked a shot with her leg, then her hip, then finally remembered to use her stick for a third save.

Contributed by Ri-Shea Schlitter

Photos contributed by Scott Brown