'It just feels really good': All Saints girls lacrosse wins second district title
WINTER GARDEN ― All Saints girls lacrosse coach Aricka Ward knew exactly what she had this season: A team full of juniors looking to take the leadership role by its horns.
Sara Williams, the leading scorer in the state of Florida, graduated last year. But the Saints rose to the occasion in the Class 1A, District 6 Championship game Tuesday at Horizon, winning 12-7.
"The buzzer went off and it felt like we didn’t win a championship because we were just doing our job, and we’re just being diligent and patient on ball movement,” coach Ward said. “And it didn’t feel like it was supposed to be the last game and its not. It just feels really good right now.”
Junior midfielder Ally Sweet showed all game why she’s been an integral part of the team's success, scoring five goals. The first came when she found a crease in the defense and eighth-grader Annette Baird connected with the nice assist.
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Sweet transferred from North Carolina in January, but it seems as if she has known her teammates forever.
“This is probably the most welcoming team I’ve ever been on. I mean they really just accepted me,” Sweet said.
Sweet was the beneficiary of a coaching adjustment by Williams and her staff. Horizon usually does well on draws, but All Saints took several along the way. Horizon stuck to what it did well all season. But All Saints was able to adjust early.
“We were able to adjust quickly on the field without me making changes. And that made the momentum of the game really change,” Ward said.
Other notable All Saints contributors were the following: Addison Lenderman with three goals, Sophia Hart with three goals and one assist, Paige Lenderman with one goal and an assist and goalie Madi Regan with 12 saves.
All Saints (11-5) now advances to the regional semifinals for the second time in school history. The Saints play at Lake Highland Prep (15-3) — the No. 2 team in the state ― on Tuesday, April 23.
“I think we are just going to try and play our game, capitalize on our possessions, make sure we slow the ball down, making sure we are not making bad mistakes, losing less possessions,” Ward said. “They have a ton of (NCAA Division I) girls that are already committed."
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: All Saints girls' lacrosse earns second district title in history
