Mallards thump Colonel Richardson, 19-11; Face Decatur on Monday

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s girl’s varsity lacrosse team got
back to the .500 mark this week, thrashing visiting Colonel Richardson, 19-11,
on Tuesday to pull even at 4-4 with a pair of games against conference rival
Salisbury School and neighborhood rival Stephen Decatur looming.

The Mallards used a goal-scoring flurry, led by Alexandra
Smith, near the end of the first half to pull away from the Colonels after a
fairly even first period. Worcester led 7-4 with about 10 minutes remaining in
the first half when they went on a scoring binge to settle the issue.

Caroline Wyatt scored on a fast break with 8:13 left in
the first half to extend the lead to 8-4 and Elizabeth Hudson added another
goal less than a minute later to make it 9-4. The two teams played even with no
goals scored for over six minutes before Caesar Rodney got back on the board
with 1:25 remaining to cut the lead to 9-5 as half-time approached when Smith
took over in the final minute.

Smith scored on a perfect feed on the crease from
Mackenzie White with 49 seconds remaining to make it 10-5 and the same scenario
repeated itself about 20 seconds later when White hit an open Smith on the
crease to make it 11-5. Seconds later, Worcester intercepted an attempted clear
by the Colonels’ goalie and hit Smith streaking down the middle for another
goal to make it 12-5. When the dust settled, Smith had scored three goals in 49
seconds to stake the Mallards to a big half-time lead.

The two teams swapped goals in a see-saw second half and
Worcester led 14-8 with just under 14 minutes remaining. Polly McNab extended
the lead to 15-8 on a fast-break goal with 5:25 left. Colonel Richardson had
plenty of opportunities down the stretch but could not cut into the Mallards’
lead. In the end, Worcester pulled away for the 19-11 win to improve to 4-4.

Smith led all Worcester scorers with four goals, while
Kristin Chandler, Caroline Wyatt and Jackie Wangel all scored three goals each.

The win sets up a big couple of games for Worcester
starting with a match-up with ESIAC rival Salisbury School this afternoon at
home. Worcester had dominated the series in the past, but the Dragons have
improved over the years and the games with the Mallards are almost always
tight.

Worcester
then plays cross-town rival Stephen Decatur at home on Monday. The Mallards
have dominated the rivalry between friendly neighbors in the past, but Decatur
beat Worcester for the first time ever last April. The Seahawks are cruising
with an unblemished record this season and appear to have the upper hand on
Worcester again this year, but anything can happen when the two teams play
regardless of records.