MV girls rally for 16-15 lacrosse win

RUMFORD -- The last game of the year was the most entertaining for the Mountain Valley girls' lacrosse team, who certainly pulled together when it counted in a game and were able to stage a monumental come back.

Zayra Simard picked up a deflection and came out from behind the net to shoot low into the left corner with 1:14 left to play as the Falcons beat Camden Hills 16-15. The Lady Falcons had rallied for a 14-10 triumph against Windjammers last month.

MV was in dire straits in the rematch and dug dig deep to overcome a 14-7 hole with 18:25 left to play.

Ayla Allen scored her 11th goal of the game at 1:56 and Emily Gallant would pick up a ground ball at the center circle and run 50 yards to tie the score at 15-15 with 1:36 remaining in the game. Falcon goalie Jordan True (16 saves) stopped Laura Johnson and Mia Maddox from point blank to set up the winning drive.

Makayla White would pass up to Allen at the restraining line, who carried the ball into the offensive end. However, CH goalie Justina Mariner stoned the shot and Simard capitalized.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the girls today,” said MV coach Rick White. The team finished with five wins for the third straight year. “Everyone stepped up and played well. We were missing five players and the girls overcame everything for the win.”

The Windjammers continued to keep the pressure on scoring four goals. That would setup the come back by the Lady Falcons. At 16:45, Allen would take a pass from Gallant to make it 14-8.  

The entire Falcon defensive unit would step up big from there. Alexa Fryover, Rebecca Maifeld, Maykayla White, Abigail Day, Katie Puiia and True would keep the Windjammers off the scoreboard for the next 14 minutes to allow the offense to get untracked. Allen scored twice and Simard scored back to back goals at 13:20 and 11:28. Allen would score twice again to trail by one. 

Falcon freshman Kayla Pingree scored her first goal of the year in the first half, but MV trailed 10-7 at halftime.