BERLIN- It took almost every bit of three overtime periods, but Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team outlast old rival Saints Peter and Paul, 13-12, to claim the 2009 Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament championship.
It looked like to might be a long day for the Mallards last Friday as the Sabres jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. Worcester cut the lead to 5-3 at the half, setting up the see-saw second half that saw the Mallards open up a three-goal lead only to relinquish it again. Saints Peter and Paul scored early in the second half to extend its lead to 6-3.
Worcester then took advantage of a prolonged extra-man situation in the second half to take the lead at 11-8. The Sabres scored a couple of late goals to tie the game at 11-11 at the end of regulation. Neither team scored in the first overtime period and the game remained tied at 11-11. In the second overtime period, the two teams exchanged goals and the score was tied again at 12-12 going into the third overtime period.
In the sudden-death third overtime period, neither team could break through and it appeared they were heading for a fourth overtime when Worcester Molly Dickerson scored the game-winner for the Mallards with just 13 seconds remaining. The Sabres goalie blocked a Worcester shot with 13 seconds left, but Dickerson scooped up the rebound and fired it into the back of the net for the dramatic three overtime win.
For Dickerson, the game winner was icing on the cake for an outstanding championship game. She finished with seven goals on the day while Mary Hudson, Jackie Wangel and Sara Noyes each scored two goals. The other big star for the Mallards in the title game was goalie Alex Lewis, who finished with 22 saves including several in the overtime periods.