May 20, 2007

F
ive goals in 90 seconds give CGA state crown

INDIANAPOLIS -- Culver Girls Academy scored three goals in the final minute of the first half and two more in the first minute of the second to break open the Indiana high school lacrosse championship game against Park Tudor Saturday.

The 20-1 Eagles went from a 2-1 lead to 7-1 in a span of 90 seconds and their way to a 13-6 victory over the host Panthers.

It was the fourth state title for the Eagles in their seven years as a program. The Eagles also won the title in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and finished as state runner-up in 2005.

St. Joseph's, which lost to CGA, 11-4, in the semifinals Friday night, beat Zionsville, 5-3, to take third. The Indians made history with their deepest run in the playoffs in then team's nine-year history.

CGA scored three goals in the final 47 seconds of the first half, with Marisa Gilmore, Frances Staadt and Jill Eelman scoring. Senior attack Natalie Lister then opened the second half by scoring off the first two draws. It took just 49 seconds.

"That's the way they play," said CGA's state coach-of-the-year Kristen Corrigan. "They did not want to lose this championship. It was their time to shine. It was their turn to show what we're made of."

Lister led the Eagles with four goals. Gilmore added three, and Staadt and Eelman each added two.

In the first game of the day, Katie Mason led the Indians, 11-6-1, with two goals and one assist. Ashley Talley added two goals, and Maureen Brown added one score. Goalie Sara Boocher had 13 saves.