Kentucky Country Day girls lacrosse earns third KSLL state crown in last four years
With a chance to claim its third girls lacrosse title in four years, Kentucky Country Day wasted little time Thursday night.
Ellie Beam scored five goals and added three assists to lead the Bearcats, the top-ranked team in MaxPreps’ Kentucky rankings, to a 13-4 win over Eastern in the Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League final at Assumption. Ceci Flowers added three goals and an assist in the victory.
Besides being the Bearcats’ third in four years, it marks the school’s 10th title in the sport. It’s also the first title for Beam, who earned tournament MVP honors. The middle/attack finished her sophomore season with 82 goals and 56 assists.
Capturing the league crown allowed the Bearcats (26-2) to finish with an undefeated record against in-state competition, coach Pat McAnulty said.
KCD dominated play from nearly the start. Beam got the scoring started 2:11 into the contest, beating goalkeeper Hannah Hardymon to her right after drawing a foul.
“We just wanted to set the tone early and win draws,” McAnulty said. “The draws are so important to set the tone and control the pace and everything. So we did a great job getting the ball.”
The lead grew to 3-0 less than four minutes into the game and 5-0 after a period. Five different Bearcats scored in the opening period, and KCD’s dominance continued well into the second quarter. Alessi Jaggers’ goal with 2:17 remaining in the first half made it 10-0 and started a running clock.
Jaggers entered the game 10 seconds earlier after Beam netted her third goal. After Beam gained possession on the ensuing draw, Jaggers found a seam in the Eagles’ defense. The two sophomores connected on a long pass that found Jaggers at point-blank range for what Jaggers called a “quick stick,” lacrosse’s equivalent to a one-timer in hockey.
“I saw Ellie go down (the field), so I was like, ‘OK, I’ll meet her here.’ Just meet her at the right angle,” Jaggers said.
The second-ranked Eagles (18-9) got on the board midway through the third quarter when Makenna Fulkerson took advantage of two KCD penalties and found the back of the net, making it an 11-1 game.
Both teams advanced to Thursday’s final with wins the day before. KCD cruised to a 19-2 victory over Assumption, while Eastern fought past defending champion Sacred Heart, 13-10. The semis were supposed to be played Tuesday but were rained out.
Not only was it the Eagles’ second win over the Valkyries this season but it also avenged the team’s loss to Sacred Heart in last year’s final. While it was a huge win for Eastern, it might also have been a bit draining.
“I think they’re exhausted… An extra day would have helped a little bit, but I have a lot of respect for KCD and their program,” Eastern coach Rylee Huffman said. “They were ready and poised.”
Both teams could be in a similar position next season. KCD loses just five seniors from this year’s team, and Eastern, which still is seeking its first title, will need to replace only three starters.
Thursday’s KSLL final was the last for the league. Beginning next school year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association will sanction the sport for boys and girls.
Beam has her eyes on keeping KCD’s legacy continuing through the transition.
“Being this young, it feels like I have so much more time to make this program great and make landmarks for this school,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KCD girls lacrosse earns third KSLL state crown in last four years
