Lacrosse: Junior high girls win tourney

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Coach James Tates and his Woodlands Junior High girls lacrosse team traveled to the Clear Lake Invitational Lacrosse tournament this past weekend and brought back first place hardware in winning four games and tying one.

The first two games ended in identical 8-0 scores as Friendswood and Kingwood did all they could to just stay on the field with The Woodlands. Goaltenders Hattie Doyle, Maddie Langdon and Lauren Reitmeyer came up big as neither opponent could find the back of The Woodlands’ net.

In game three, Pershing gave The Woodlands all they could handle as the young Lady Highlanders were able to squeak out a tie and move on to the playoff bracket. Going into the tournament playoffs, The Woodlands was seeded third with Clear Lake and Pin Oak seeded 1 and 2 in order.

In the semi-final match-up against Pin Oak, The Woodlands came out like a house on fire lighting up Pin Oak to the tune of a 9-3 victory and a date with the No. 1 seed and tournament host, Clear Lake in the tournament championship game.

In a see-saw battle, The Woodlands hustled their way to a 7-6 upset championship victory over Clear Lake.

Tates was elated with his team's play; "It was a total team effort as 14 of our girls located twine and our veteran defenders, Michelle Merida, Hannah Bella, Sydney Yglecias and goalie Hattie Doyle were a virtual wall as they held down the fort in magnificent fashion," Tates said.

Top scorers for The Woodlands were Parker Bliss, Brennan Tates and Yglecias with four goals each as Ally Karpinsky, Reagan Orozco and Caroline Courtney banged home three apiece.

Ariel Tucker was the assist leader with two.

In lacrosse, the game is won on the ground as the team that hustles more and picks up more loose balls always gets the “W.” Tates scoured the ground for six, followed by Lauren Villareal, Clare Finney, Claire Couvillion, Karpinski, Yglecias and Orozco, all with four ground balls.

Goaltenders Doyle, Langdon and Reitmeyer combined for 18 saves in the tournament.

The team will host a play day at Alden Bridge Sports Park this coming Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as teams from the Houston area and beyond compete in a round robin tournament format.