Farmington Lacrosse Tops North-Harrison

It came down to the wire, but the girls lacrosse team walked off the pitch Monday with its first win of the season, beating - 11-10.

Farmington coach Mike Mehall said the Falcons' record was not what they were hoping for at this time in the season, but his team is young.

“The big issue is that we lost nine seniors last year,” Mehall said. “It’s a lot of new players.”

The Falcons (1-4) got off to a 5-3 lead, but North-Harrison (0-5) fired off shot after shot and went into the half with a 7-5 lead.

Lauren Anderson of Farmington started the scoring in the second half. The goal was one of four for Anderson in the game. Kelly Plummer scored after Anderson, putting Farmington in a tie with North-Harrison.

Anderson would score again to put the game at 8-7 Farmington. North-Harrison’s Cassie Callahan evened things out, but it wasn’t long before Anderson retaliated and put her team back on top, 9-8.

North-Harrison would tie it up once more on a goal by Abby Bruckman, but Falcons Natalie Petrella and Susan Roggenkamp put their team ahead.

Both sides looked sharp and physical, not like two teams each battling for a first win. North-Harrison coach Nicky Barrett said she was encouraged by the performance.

“We have been steadily improving, we are a young team,” Barrett said. “And we are just getting better and better with each game.”

When asked where her young squad needs to improve, Barrett can point to the end of the game.

“Control and composure,” she said. “When we have one goal down, and we have a minute to go, we can’t afford to turn the ball over.”

Petrella, a Farmington senior captain, said the defense looked good in the game, and she believes this win has set the team up for future success.

“I think definitely winning City Champs is going to set a new path for our season,” Petrella said. “This was a huge win for us, especially being our first.”

Mehall agreed that the defense was looking more united. There are three new players on defense this year.

“(Defense) is always the hardest thing to get going,” Mehall said. “It’s getting them to function as a team now.”

Earlier in the day, the North-Harrison junior varsity girls beat Farmington. This was the first time any North-Harrison lacrosse team, boys or girls at any level, has beaten Farmington since the schools split.

North-Harrison will be in action Wednesday at Dexter. Farmington stays on the road to face Lake Orion, also on Wednesday.