Chelsea Devils Split with U-32
By Mary Childs

Last Saturday the Chelsea varsity girls’ lacrosse team traveled to East Montpelier to face Division II defending champs, U-32. It marked Chelsea’s first game and first win of the season with a 7-3 final score.

U-32 opened the scoring early in the game, but Chelsea’s defense and offense picked it up. Chelsea responded with four unanswered goals leading the teams into halftime with Chelsea ahead 4-1.

U-32 and Chelsea played evenly early in the second half, but Chelsea remained in the lead 6-3. Chelsea sealed the win when U-32 goalie made an illegal check giving Michelle Upham a wide open goal to tally her first varsity goal and the Devil’s seventh in the game.

Chelsea’s high scorers were Kim Upham with three goals, Lindsey Smith with two, and Jodi Emerson and M. Upham with one apiece. Chelsea’s keeper Hillary Bonasera had eight saves in the goal.

U-32 Again

It wasn’t long until Chelsea faced the Raiders again, when they met up on the Devils’ turf on Monday. U-32 wasn’t going to hand the game to Chelsea and the two teams played evenly from start to finish, going into double overtime. Unfortunately U-32 came out on top with a 9-8 win.

Chelsea tallied the first goal of the game, but U-32 addedthe next two. The Devils and the Raiders swapped goals back and forth to send both teams into the half with a 4-4 tie.

In the second half U-32 came out strong and scored two unanswered goals, giving them a 6-4 lead. Chelsea fought their way back with strong offensive pressure. Althea Spencer scored a goal bringing the Devils within one of the Raiders. Mary Childs received a pass from Kim Upham to put the Devils back into the game with a 6-6 tie.

As time dwindled down U-32 held the lead 7-6 with less than a minute to go. Chelsea’s Smith and Upham pushed the ball up the field to attempt one more shot at goal. An attempt by Childs led to a shooting space call on U-32, opening up the perfect opportunity for Chelsea to strike again. When the whistle blew to resume the game a quick pass by Childs was made to Sam Bonasera for the shot that tied the game at 7-7. With 34 seconds remaining in the game the teams took the draw and U-32 gained possession. A last minute call on Chelsea almost put the game away as U-32 had a free shot, but Chelsea goalie Hillary Bonasera was there for the block giving Chelsea one more chance.

The first three minutes of overtime began and within seconds Smith was already tearing up the field and scored the first goal of overtime for the Lady devils. Chelsea dominated the first period with a passing game, giving up no opportunities for U-32. Unfortunately, the second period swung a different way. U-32 rallied back and tied the game at 8-8 with about a minute and a half remaining. With less than a minute to go the Raiders made a lucky interception and scored the final goal of the game. When the final horn sounded, U-32 was on top with a 9-8 win.

Chelsea’s Upham, Smith and Spencer had two goals each and S. Bonasera and Childs tallied one each for the Lady Devils. Chelsea keeper S. Bonasera had 10 saves. Chelsea’s record drops to 1-1.

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