SOUTH CHINA — While the Gardiner girls lacrosse team may not have scoring threats the likes of Ally or Jenn Day on this season’s team, Tigers coach Chad Kirk feels this spring’s more balanced scoring attack makes them just as dangerous.
“We’re not the one-person show like we have been in the past. We’re more evenly keeled,” Kirk said. “We can have four people that score four goals instead of one person scoring eight and others scoring a couple.”
That balance was on display Tuesday as seven different Tigers scored in a 14-2 win over Erskine (1-7). Nickyia Lovely and Maddy Beaulieu led Gardiner with three goals each, while Kelsi Thibeau, Bryce Smith and Hailee Lovely each scored twice. Evelyn Hinkley and Emma Hickey also scored for Gardiner (3-5).
The Tigers dialed up the pressure from the start en route to an 8-1 lead at halftime. According to Kirk, increased pressure — particularly from the team’s forwards — has been the focus since the Tigers’ 16-4 loss to Freeport Saturday.
“Ever since the Freeport game I said, ‘OK, learn something from this,’ and that’s what we worked on practice the next day because guess what? We need to pressure,” Kirk said. “Your four attacking players have to work all the way to that line. You’ve got to pressure, pressure, pressure and it works.”
As for Erskine — who got goals from Kaitlyn Darveau and Michelle Lemelin in the loss — the focus has been to remain positive in its first season as a varsity club.
“We’re working hard, they don’t quit and this Gardiner team is a very good team. Obviously they’ve played a lot together and it shows, but at the same time I appreciate the fact that my kids don’t quit even when we’re behind,” Erskine coach Shara MacDonald said. “I think they’re having fun. It’s hard when you get beat night after night like that but they keep working hard and I’m pleased with the little things that we’re doing all the time.”
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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