The Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team faced off with the Ladue Rams and, with two goals in the final 45 seconds, came out victorious, 8-7, May 12.

The Wildcats led 2-0 after the first 11 minutes behind goals from Mia Fiore, attack, and Shea McCrary, attack, shutting out the Rams offense early.

“We possessed the ball well early. We needed to play a full 50 minutes though,” Ms. Ellen Wright, head coach, said. “They could get those two goals back very easily.”

The Rams were able to take the lead, scoring three unanswered and taking a 3-2 lead, 5:46.

“I think we got too complacent,” Coach Wright said. “After we got the first two goals the girls kind of sat back.”

In the final 5:31 in the first half the Wildcats put two goals back on the board taking a one goal lead into the half, 4-3.

“We needed to win our ground balls,” Fiore said. “We needed to realize when we were open in the second half.”

A quick start to the second half resulted in two goals for the Rams and one for the Wildcats with 19:39 left, tying the game, 5-5.

However, following the early second half scoring the game went into a 14-minute scoring drought.

“Ladue controlled the ball a lot,” Coach Wright said. “They were running their settled attack and killing a lot of clock.”

After a back-and-forth next four minutes, the Wildcats trailed the Rams, 7-6 ,with 1:54 remaining.

Fiore took control late, though, and she put two shots past the Ladue Goaltender, her first coming with 45 seconds left, tying the game, 7-7.

“Mia’s just incredible,” Coach Wright said. “She plays so well and with style. I’m really glad she’s on our team because I would hate having to play her.”

Fiore capped the Wildcats’ victory with her second goal in the last minute and her third of the game with just 22 seconds left.

“I felt great to score,” Fiore said. “I love my team, and I would do anything for them.”

After the game the Wildcats honored their 11 seniors, ending a strong regular season in which the girls went 9-5 with still one game remaining.

“Senior Night was exhilarating,” Elizabeth Darrow, attack, said. “Everyone put in so much work and it was really special.”

The Wildcats’ final regular season game will be at home against Villa Duchesne, May 13.