Coming off two victories in scrimmages against Centreville and T.C. Williams High Schools, the McLean High School girls varsity lacrosse team engaged Yorktown High in a season opener home game last Wednesday that ended with a tight McLean loss, 14-13, in double overtime.
Yorktown took off to a four-point lead in the first half, 6-2, with two minutes remaining, until McLean’s offense rallied and tied the game by halftime.
The remainder of the game became a sparring match, with each team scoring a goal in tandem to tie the game by end of regular time. Aggressive plays by McLean’s senior midfielder Maggie Streeten, with six goals, and freshman midfielder Mackenzie May, with three, kept play into double overtime, a first for the relatively young McLean varsity team.
This year, McLean welcomed four freshman – May, Rummer Bershtein, Carlye Howard and Bridget Smith – and three sophomores.
The first loss of the season didn’t faze McLean Head Coach Anne Inzerello, who noted strong plays from Streeten and junior goalkeeper Hanna Longwell, who made 24 saves.
“Maggie Streeten had a near-perfect shooting percentage with a double hat trick, and Hanna Longwell kept the game close with a phenomenal performance in goal,” said Inzerello. “Longwell’s aggressive play was rewarded with 24 saves.”
Inzerello looked forward to a comeback in an away game against Lee High this Friday, March 20. “The girls played together like they had an entire season under the belts already,” she said. “As coaches, we are excited to see this team’s potential unfold throughout the season.”
