Lady Highlander Lax edges Memorial in second sudden death thriller in a row

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Rayne Dobson and the Woodlands Lady Highlander lacrosse team took down district foe, Memorial High School in sudden death-overtime, 12-11 in Houston last Thursday night to remain undefeated and alone atop the Houston area district standings at 6-0.

Dobson was fed perfectly by Ashleigh Dixon as she proceeded to put the ball past the hapless Memorial goaltender for the game winner to cap off a well played game for the Lady Highlander junior who will be heading off to Anderson University upon graduating in 2023. For the evening, Rayne tallied two goals, an assist and two draw controls.

Once again, Dixon had a monster night with three goals, an assist, five draw controls and a ground ball.

Freshman, Tabi Reardon continues to give opponents fits in all aspects of the game and in particular by striking gold four times for The Woodlands. You’d have to go back quite a few years to find a Lady Highlander frosh who has even approached the level of production Reardon has. Stats: Four goals, two draw controls and three caused turnovers.

Excellent defense was turned in by Nicole McCalla, Sid Spartz and Avery Cox. They played tough, smart and consistent lacrosse. These three haven’t been mentioned too much to this point in the season. However, if tonight is any indication of what is to come, you’ll be sick of seeing their names come May.

In goal, you wouldn’t call this game one of Jesse Cole’s more masterful performances, but the ball was in the defensive end for much of the game and you could hear Cole keeping the team together playing as a unit. She also came up with huge saves at opportune times. You want your field general to be a leader as well as be an excellent example. Cole is all of that and more as her motor is going ”110” all game long. Stats: Seven saves and an INT.

On offense, Lea Niznik took a beating from the very physical and big Lady Mustang team. You won’t find a tougher player than Niznik anywhere and it reflects in her play. Like Timex, she takes a licking and keeps on ticking. In watching Lea go after ground balls, you’d think she was chasing after a cowardly cheating boyfriend.

Also on offense, Co-Captain, Mia Kouletsis always draws the toughest defenders. Because the opponents always key on Kouletsis, her numbers may be a bit down on occasion. However, like Cole on defense, she’s the field general who seemingly has eyes in the back of her head on offense. Mia sees the whole field and is the consummate team player. Two goals and an assist for Mia on the evening.

Marin Nordenstam is always the fastest player on the field and helps out everywhere. She makes recoveries from 30 yards away. You want to find Marin? Just look where a loose ball is. She’s usually the first one there…and she arrives in ill humor. Stats: an assist, two draw controls and a caused turnover.

Katelyn Hua and Liberty Hasselgren may not have made the stat column, but their contributions are many. In lacrosse, if you’re looking at the stat column because you figure it’s the only way to see if players contribute, you’re observing the wrong game.

At attack, Meredith Hunter is masterful at setting up plays. She dishes, she shoots, she throws successful no-look passes, she gobbles up ground balls and can even be lodged in goal if Jesse blows out a wheel. On some game days, don’t be surprised to see her singing the national anthem, working the concession stand or lining the field. You want someone that does it all? I give you senior, Meredith Hunter.

Adrienne Drickamer is one of the best high percentage shooters on the team. If you had to pick one offensive player to score a one on one goal, you’d pick Drickamer. She’s money! Stats: A goal and a GB.

Dallas transplant, Ava Miocic continues to log valuable minutes and is a caused turnover machine. Miocic will find a player’s weakness in the first half making that player’s second half a living “heck”. Stats: Caused TO and a GB.

Leah Mason is waiting in the wings and doing all she can to get her game back after missing last season. I can only assume her physical play at practice served the team well in preparing for Klein and Memorial.

NOTES: Memorial is a tall team and they play aggressively. In order to come out on top, the Lady Highlanders had to dig deep down and be as tough as the Lady Mustangs. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

After a huge victory over Klein just two days previous, the Lady Highlanders could have mailed it in and suffered a letdown. You wouldn’t call this game perfectly played by The Woodlands by any stretch of the imagination, but they did what they set out to do…and that’s win?

CAPTAIN’S QUOTE by LOLA KILLIDJIAN

“After playing Memorial tonight, I realized how blessed I was to be a part of this team. Even when the score got tight and all of us were getting in our heads, we were there for our teammates and we had each other’s backs. It felt like the very definition of “Lose together, win together” and I feel that connection between us was the reason we won “together”.

The Woodlands plays Cy Fair Tuesday night away and Episcopal Thursday night at home. Standing Room Only tickets are available only.