BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team
cruised to its second straight Bayside Conference championship, beating Kent
Island, 14-8, in the title game at Wicomico County Stadium on Tuesday.
The Seahawks used a big offensive burst early in the title
game on Tuesday to gain some separation from Kent Island and rolled to their
second straight championship. Decatur ran the table in the regular season,
compiling a perfect 12-0 record to earn the top spot in the Bayside standings
and a shot at a second conference title in as many years.
Just as they have done all season, the Seahawks jumped out
to an early lead on a goal by Sarah Braniecki just 18 seconds into the title
game on Tuesday. Kent Island tied the game at 1-1 a short time later, before
the Seahawks went on a decisive 6-0 run halfway through the first half to
basically settle the issue.
Led by senior captain Amy Buckley, Decatur reeled off six
straight goals to extend the lead to 7-1 with just under 11 minutes remaining
in the half, but it was far too early to celebrate. Both teams exchanged goals
in the frantic back end of the first half, which ended with the Seahawks
leading 10-4.
Kent Island scored seven minutes into the second half to
cut the Decatur lead to 10-5, but that was as close as they would get.
Decatur’s prolific offense kept the pressure on throughout the second half and
added four more goals down the stretch. Kent Island added three more goals of
its own to hand around in the contest, but in the end, the Seahawks prevailed
to win their second straight Bayside Conference title and prepare to move on to
states.
Buckley
led the Decatur onslaught with six goals and an assist. Ali Lathroum added
three goals and Braniecki added two.