• by Chloe Ropner '11, captain
• April 28, 2011

The sun was shining and the bleachers began to fill as the Judge Memorial girls' lacrosse team exploded onto the field for their last home game of the season. The community gathered to honor the senior players for their grand finale at the stunning McCarthey Stadium, a bittersweet night for the soon-to-be-graduates, but a memorable battle, as the Bulldogs gnawed their way to a 12-9 conquest over their opponents, the Waterford Ravens.

The Ravens began the game with a quick goal, warning the Bulldogs of their talents and their ravenous craving for a victory. The Bulldogs met the Raven’s intensity with their own passion and began passing, snatching, and shooting their way to triumph.

Junior captain Koko Novak led the scoreboard with an impressive double hat trick, accounting for half of the Bulldog’s overall scoring tally. Senior captain Chloe Ropner also knocked three goals past the Raven’s goalkeeper, along with four assists for a total of seven points through the game. Sophomore middie Emily Schnopp added one to the goal count, along with senior attacker Campbell Wyasket and senior captain Sierra Brimhall. Freshmen Liz Lewis and sophomore Clarissa Avila pounded an assist-a-piece into their teammates sticks throughout the game accounting for a point for each.

Sophomore powerhouse Payton Schiff stormed the field with four forced turnovers and five raked up groundballs. Several more grounders were scooped up from the tantalizing turf by Ropner (3), Novak (2), Schnopp (2), Benvegnu (2) and Wyasket (1). Senior goalkeeper Mary Briggs stopped seven high-speed Raven shots from entering her domain and freshman keeper Hannah Samowitz also blocked one for the team.

The Lady Bulldogs assailed the ravens in draw controls, Ropner coming out of the circle with four, Novak with three, and Schiff, Fey, Schnopp, and Avila all with a dinger per player.

The Ravens challenged the Red and Gold Bulldogs with their speed and precision, but the Bulldogs rose to the occasion and sent their seven smiling seniors home with a well-earned victory.

The Judge Bulldogs will meet the black and orange Murray Spartans on May 3, in what will prove to be an exciting season-capping game, and a decision maker for the 2011 girls' lacrosse state playoffs.