Wahconah Wins Third Straight

DALTON, Mass. – Mia Thomas led the way with four goals Saturday as the Wahconah girls lacrosse team overcame the schedule, the heat and the South Hadley Tigers with an 11-10 win.

 

Thomas earned two assists, and Brooke Harrington and Anna Doyle each had a hat trick as Wahconah (10-7) avenged a 13-9 loss at South Hadley back in April.

 

Wahconah won its third game in a row, playing for the third day in a row and continued a stretch of six games in eight days.

 

After giving up seven goals in the first quarter, South Hadley battled back and held Wahconah scoreless over the final 12 minutes.

 

But Wahconah’s defense and keeper Phalyn Renderer stood tall, stopping the Tigers on a last-ditch effort after the visitors won a draw with 35 seconds left, got off a shot, intercepted a clearing pass and still got a couple of looks at the goal before time expired.

 

“It was a great win,” Wahconah coach Kathy Budaj said. “We fought till the end. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to. They kind of let down a little bit. And I get it. They’re tired, and South Hadley has some good players.

 

“I’m not making excuses. I’m being honest. We started off the week tough against Northampton. The next day was Mount Anthony, tough. Pittsfield was an emotional game. So we’ve had a busy week, for sure.”

 

Wahconah has a brief off day on Sunday before getting back to business Monday afternoon at home in the regular season finale against Belchertown, a team it beat, 13-7, in mid-April.

 

Saturday’s win showed how far Wahconah has come from the team that started the year with two road losses and fell to 3-3 the first time it played South Hadley.

 

“The first time we played them … we were rushing it, we were throwing the ball away,” Budaj said. “And we started getting into that in the second quarter [Saturday]. I said, ‘Guys, that’s how we lost the first time.’ So we need to take care of the ball.

 

“And they did a good job – as good a job as they absolutely could. I commend them. I know I couldn’t have been out there today.”

 

Photos from this game to come.