DARTMOUTH: A strong third-period surge has Team Nova Scotia’s U17 female box lacrosse team heading into the playoffs with plenty of momentum, and several familiar Fall River-area faces playing key roles.
Among the Nova Scotia offensive leaders were Fall River-area players Joss Moran and Eila Flanagan.
Moran found the net three times, including twice in the third period, while Flanagan scored twice in the final frame as Nova Scotia broke open what had been a relatively close game.
She told The Laker News after the game the team may have been feeling some nerves early in the game, but eventually settled into its game plan.
“I thought overall we played a great game and we really gelled together as a team,” Moran said. “I think that the hard work throughout the season really paid off.”
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Nova Scotia led 3-2 after the opening period and 4-3 after two periods before exploding for six goals in the third.
Moran said the team did a good job of staying composed when the game was still close.
“I think we were a little bit nervous, but I think we did a very good job shaking it off and being calm and collected under pressure,” she said.
“We needed to just start trusting each other and start gelling more. But we started off a little iffy. But we got it in the end. That’s all that matters.”
Moran’s three-goal performance was part of an offensive attack that also saw Amara Bowers score three times, Flanagan score twice and Raya Evong and Olivia Matheson add singles. Evong, Addison Pooler, Abigale Fahie and Mia Ecker each recorded an assist.
Flanagan also had a two-goal performance, scoring once early in the third period before adding another on the power play later in the frame.
For Flanagan, the offensive success came from trusting the players around her.
“I kind of just trusted what the offensive was doing and how they played, but I just let it put my all,” she said.
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The Fall River contingent on Team N.S. extends beyond Moran and Flanagan.
Alice Taylor and Stella James are also members of the provincial squad. Both appeared in Wednesday’s game.
The team also has a coach with ties to Lockview High, adding another local connection to the provincial squad.
With the round robin now complete, Team N.S. turns its attention to the playoffs, which begin Friday afternoon.
Flanagan said the formula for success remains straightforward.
“Just work hard and remember to trust our teammates,” she said. “We’ve got to continue what we’ve been doing and just trust each other more.”
