WELLESLEY — Locked in a close game at halftime, both Cohasset and Medfield made their adjustments in Tuesday night’s Div. 3 girls lacrosse state final.
But as both teams came to learn, there were no adjustments that would slow down Medfield midfielder Kelly Blake.
The sophomore led all scorers with seven goals to lead Medfield to the program’s second state title with a 12-9 victory over Cohasset.
The second-seeded Warriors finished with a 20-3 record, while eighth-seeded Cohasset concluded at 17-4.
Soaked from the water dumped on her by her players, Medfield coach Mary Laughna praised her young star.
“Kelly has just been phenomenal all season,” said Laughna. “She thrives under pressure. She thrives under situations like this. So I knew she was going to have a good game. She is just someone who can channel that intensity of the game, and just focus in on the game, and take control of the game.”
Wellesley, MA – June 21: Medfield midfielder Kelly Maeve (9) and Medfield Catherine Bannister celebrate the win as Cohasset takes on Medfield in girls Div. 3 lacrosse on June 21, 2022 in , Wellesley, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
“I woke up (Tuesday morning), and I was ready,” Blake said. “We’ve practiced, and we worked so hard for this. The past few weeks of playoffs, and we’ve just been dreaming of it. And I knew deep down we’d (be good) because we’ve been working so hard for it.”
The first half, it was anyone’s game, with Cohasset leading 6-5 at the break. But from then on, Medfield took over. Kerry White and Alex Blake (3 goals) scored to grab the lead back for Medfield less than five minutes in.
Kira Fulton (four goals) scored for Cohasset to tie it, but again Medfield answered. Kelly Blake and Alex Proefrock tallied for Medfield, and Reese Hansen scored for the Skippers to make it 9-8, Medfield.
But an all-Kelly Blake run where she scored three more goals – once on an outside shot, another off a free position, and another off a Cassie McDonald assist – put this it away for the Warriors, who last won a state title in girls lacrosse in 2012.
“At halftime, we just talked about we really needed to dig in deep,” Laughna said. “This team has had a lot to fight for this season, and I think at halftime, we took a deep breath. We had to remind ourselves who we are as a team and who we are as a team. And we definitely came out the second half playing more our game than we did in the first half.”
Medfield goalie Sophie Young made seven key saves, while Cohasset’s Laney Larsen added three goals.