EASTHAMPTON — Williston Northampton girls lacrosse coach Jennifer Fulcher received the perfect birthday gift from her team Wednesday — a 14-8 win over Deerfield Academy.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the game’s first 10 minute and led 11-3 at halftime.
“All of us are the most competitive people out here. We try to be everywhere on the field, we try to outwork everyone,” senior Meg Szawlowski said. “It doesn’t come down to skill, it comes to the grit and hard work.”
Szawlowski (Leeds) led the Wildcats (8-0) with five goals, four assists and four draws controlled.
Goalie Tara Sullivan helped build the lead by making 11 of her 14 saves in the first half, including a point-blank stop off the opening draw that could have drastically altered the game’s opening stanza.
“She played her heart out today,” Fulcher said. “She saved us in all sorts of key times.”
Williston didn’t maintain as comfortable a lead in the second half.
Deerfield (4-3) scored five straight goals to pull within 12-8 with 12 minutes, 47 seconds remaining.
“You knew they were going to come at us at some point. You knew they were going to make a run. They stepped up their level,” Fulcher said. “We stopped doing the small things. We were losing the battle of the ground balls. We lost key draws. We had key turnovers, and our defense wasn’t sliding as a unit.”
Williston eventually stabilized its defense and put two more goals in the net to finish Deerfield.
“It is so hard to come out so strong then have a terrific team coming at you 100 percent and then be able to regain your composure and take back control of the game,” Fulcher said. “We wish we didn’t have that lull, but we don’t play perfect lacrosse. None of us are perfect. The mental toughness to regroup when all the momentum was sliding away is a real credit to these guys.”
Cheshire 5, Williston 1 — Ian Ostberg (Florence) scored the Wildcats’ only run of the game after a triple in the third inning of a road loss.
Ostberg, JT Chamberlain and Mike Mieczkowski had two hits for Williston (5-1).
Daylon Thompson struck out eight in his five innings to take the loss.
Cushing 3, Williston 2 — Delaney Belinskas had two hits and an RBI, while Gabby Jones scored a run in the Wildcats’ home loss.
Jordan Strum struck out 12 with just two walks and three hits for Williston (3-1).
Berkshire 14, Williston 4 — Sam Milnes made 19 saves for the Wildcats (3-5).
Loomis Chafee 6, Williston 1 — Sophomore Nihish Raja won at the No. 6 position for the Wildcats (2-4).
Williston 6, Suffield Academy 1 — The Wildcats improved to 6-1.
Williston 194, Pomfret 237, Wilbraham & Monson 239 — Jacob Zaranek (South Deerfield) earned medalist honors, shooting a 37 for the Wildcats (6-3) at GreatHorse Country Club in Hampden.
Williston 3, Loomis Chafee 2; Williston 5, Miss Porters 0 — Sabrina Sampson shot a career-low 38 to lead the Wildcats (6-3) at Southampton Country Club.