Naef's Four Goals Lead Wahconah Past Chicopee Comp
DALTON, Mass. – If the Wahconah girls lacrosse team is looking for signs of improvement, they were on full display in Wednesday’s 12-2 win over Chicopee Comp.
For starters, it was a big turnaround from a disappointing performance on the road at Granby two days earlier.
In terms of the growth over the course of the month, it was a step up from the 9-2 win over the Colts in Chicopee back in the season opener on April 1.
And to the eye of Wahconah coach Kathy Budaj, there were plenty of things that do not show up on the scoreboard.
“There are some things that we’re learning and we’re growing, and that’s all I can ask for from these guys,” Budaj said. “Today, we all said each person was going to work on something that they individually identify they need to do, and I saw that happening today, which was really nice.”
Senior Claire Naef scored four goals, and first-year keeper Phalyn Renderer made four saves as Wahconah improved to 4-2 this season.
Eva Eberwein finished with two goals and two assists.
She scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Ava Massaro and then set up Naef to give the hosts a 2-0 lead 10 minutes into the game.
Chicopee Comp answered to cut the deficit in half, but Wahconah scored the next three to take control, including two straight by Naef to earn a hat trick in the first half.
After Alison Wegrzyn scored her second of the game for Comp with six minutes left in the half, Wahconah got goals from Paige Trager, Norah Esko and Eberwein to take a six-goal margin into half-time.
In the second half, Renderer stopped all three shots she faced to keep the Colts off the board.
At the other end, Wahconah put four more goals past Katherine Ingram, who was credited with 22 stops.
Budaj came into the season knowing that her team would have some room for improvement. Two-thirds of Wahconah’s roster is new to the varsity, including seven first-years and sophomores.
“We’re growing and building,” she said. “Those seniors [Naef and Eberwein] are leading very well. They’re great role models for the kids.
“We’ve got a new goalie, never played goal before, and she did a good job. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Wahconah Friday plays its third game in five days when it hosts Westfield.