SEASON REVIEW: Girls Lax Ends Season 16-4 After Sectional Finals Loss

After a slow start to the 2010 season, the Summit girls lacrosse team rallied to win 14 consecutive games to reach the NJ Group 2 Sectional finals. Although the team suffered a season-ending loss in the finals to local rival, Chatham, the young Hilltopper squad held their heads high and acknowledged their many season accomplishments.

"I think we were successful because we emphasized working together as a team," sophomore Kate Martino said. "Everyone bought into the system. Each player had a specific role and was expected to follow through with it."

The Hilltoppers' season began with disappointment when they suffered a one-goal loss in their opening game to Oak Knoll School. Although Summit won their next two games in convincing fashion (17-0 over New Providence; 13-9 over Lynbrook), the Hilltoppers then suffered two more emotional losses (8-7 loss to Kent Place; 13-6 loss to Chatham) to bring their 2010 record to 2-3 after two weeks of play.

"I think what changed our season (following the early losses) was having pride in everything we do," Summit head coach Rob Grella said. "We knew we could give a much better effort."

"As a team, we were determined, especially after losing the first few games," Martino said. "We worked hard to get better every day in practice."

And get better, they did. The girls also started to have a little more fun. Perhaps the catalyst for their mid-season streak was the team's trip to Georgia, where they played the eventual No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the Peach State. The Hilltoppers put aside their early season woes to defeat No. 1 Milton (16-12) and No. 2 Chattahoochee (14-9). It was a good trip, both for Summit's record and for team morale.

During the Georgia trip, sophomore Kate Martino and junior goalie Natalia Angelo competed in and won a lacrosse "Braveheart" challenge, where two middies and two goalkeepers from opposing teams face off and go one on one, full-field, until one team scores.

"For me, the most memorable part of the season was when Kate Martino and Natalia Angelo won the most intense braveheart I've ever seen down in Georgia," Grella said.

"Georgia was a lot of fun, but for me, the most memorable moment of the season was the Union County Final game," Martino said.

In the Union County Tournament, Summit had the opportunity to avenge their earlier one-goal losses to both Kent Place and Oak Knoll. In the UCT semifinals, the Hilltoppers did just that when they easily defeated Kent Place, 13-6. In the UCT finals, Summit won their 10th consecutive game when they defeated Oak Knoll in a nerve-racking 15-12 victory to be crowned the 2010 county champions.

"When we won the Union County Tournament, it felt like a weight was lifted off our shoulders," Martino said. "We had proven ourselves as a team and showed that we could compete with anyone."

The newfound confidence and spark came at just the right time, as the Hilltoppers now entered the state playoffs. The team sailed through the first two rounds of the NJ Group 2 sectional with a 20-6 win over Pascack Valley and a 17-2 victory over Delaware Valley.

In the semifinals, Summit faced a familiar opponent in West Essex. Although the Hilltoppers defeated West Essex 19-14 earlier in the season, the Knights had ended Summit's season last year with a 10-8 victory in the Sectional Finals.

In an exciting game that went into overtime, Summit squeaked by the Knights in an 8-7 victory to reach the 2010 Sectional Finals against No. 6 Chatham. Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, the team's second-half comeback fell short in the finals against Chatham, and Summit lost the game 8-5. The defeat ended Summit's 14-game winning streak and their 2010 season.

Although the Hilltoppers will graduate seven seniors from this year's team, including Molly Leighton, Kylie McKenna, Clare O'Malley (27 goals, 9 assists), Mary Pomeroy, Erika Hartwyk, and goalies Sarah Weber and Quinn Baldacci, Summit will return a majority of their leading point scorers. Sophomores Megan Paytas (55 goals, 17 assists), Kate Martino (48 goals, 21 assists), Caroline Cordrey (47 goals, 17 assists), Kelly Osmulski (33 goals, 7 assists), and Kendall Speno (14 goals, 24 assists) will join a number of other talented underclassmen and return to the field next season.

The younger Hilltoppers will utilize the knowledge passed on by the team's graduating seniors next season and beyond.

"Our seniors taught us how to lead, when to step up, and when to play an active role on and off the field," Martino said. "Hopefully, when we're seniors, we'll have the experience to deal with tough situations."

"This year's seniors have passed on the will to play every game with your best effort," Grella said.

With so many returning players, the Hilltoppers look forward to a successful season next year and, perhaps, a state championship trophy.

"Expectations are always high here in Summit," Grella said. "In terms of goals for next year, winning the State Sectional is first on my mind–losing two years in a row is enough!"

The Hilltoppers end the 2010 season ranked No. 12 in the state with a 16-4 record.