WELLESLEY — Little went as planned for the Notre Dame Academy of Hingham for much of Monday’s girls lacrosse game at Wellesley.
The host Raiders were better on the draws and on the ground, and they forced NDA to play from a deficit for way longer than they’re used to.
But even when faced with such adversity, the visiting Cougars found a way to overcome it, rallying in the second half, then prevailing with a 10-9 double-overtime victory.
With the win, NDA improves to 14-0, while Wellesley falls to 9-4.
In a tense extra session, it was Notre Dame’s Emma Connerty who scored the game-winner. It proved to be NDA’s only lead of the game.
“I think we learned a lot about ourselves and coming together,” said Connerty, who scored two goals. “We haven’t really been in this position before. These are the types of games we want to be a part of, these competitive games.”
That’s exactly what NDA got from Wellesley, which held a 5-4 lead at the half. The Raiders scored the first two goals on the second frame, as well, as Kailyn Uller’s strike gave the hosts a 7-4 advantage.
But Notre Dame kept chipping away. With a better performance on the ground and on draws in the second half, the Cougars fought back. Siobahn Cohan scored to tie it at 8 with 10:22 left.
After Tara Battaglino (four goals) broke the tie in Wellesley’s favor with 2:15 to play, Jane Hilsabeck of NDA scored with 46 seconds left in regulation to tie it back up.
The first overtime session featured saves in both ends, including the 12th of the game for Wellesley’s Bryce Lane. But Connerty ripped home the winner to send her team home victorious.
“We needed more possession, fewer turnovers, and when we were causing turnovers in the defensive end, they were all on top of the ground ball,” NDA coach Meredith McGinnis said. “We just needed to focus on finishing those plays.”
Hilsabeck scored three goals, while Aubrey McMahon had two, and Paige Foraste and Alexa Kenney each scored one goal. Summer Foraste made five saves for NDA.
NDA, which competes in Div. 2, has now beaten several D1 powers, such as Westwood and Wellesley, and can boast for now as the best team in the state.
“I think we have to (rise to the occasion no matter who we play),” McGinnis said. “It’s our goal to show up every single day, whether it be a game day or a practice day, and respond. Play as well as we can, make adjustments when we need to make adjustments. At the end of the day, the score’s going to be what it is. So long as it’s making us better, we felt like we’ve been successful that day.”