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Every game in the inaugural WLL season has been a relentless battle, and the Maryland Charm-New York Charging rematch in Chicago was no different.
The Charm kept their championship chances alive Saturday by edging the Charging in a 16-15 thriller.
The game was a battle for the entire 48 minutes. The team stats for both Maryland and New York were virtually identical, with the Charm edging the Charging out in only a few categories.
With the win, Maryland heads into its last regular-season game with momentum and a 55% chance of advancing to the WLL Championship Game on Aug. 15.
The loss didn’t eliminate New York, but with its regular season now complete, its championship hopes now will depend on the outcomes of the season’s final two games.
Maryland: Composed and challenging
When a lacrosse game turns into a back-and-forth pendulum swing of momentum, the only way to win is to stay composed. This is precisely what the Charm did.
The game opened with the highest-scoring first quarter in WLL history. Instead of letting that deter the Maryland defense, the players locked down, allowing only seven goals over the next three quarters, compared to eight in the first.
Head coach Emily Parros’ decision to pick up Caroline Wakefield paid off in full. A defense with Wakefield, Abby Bosco and Maddy Sterling was a nightmare to get through.
Wakefield’s presence was immediately felt. Within the first seven minutes of the game, she met a cutting Erin Coykendall on the crease, laying her out before taking the ball. Wakefield’s, Bosco’s and Sterling’s physicality, combined with their commitment to defensive fundamentals, led the Charm to a composed game. Maryland beat New York in caused turnovers, 13-8. The Charm’s choice to double the ball, especially Izzy Scane, gave them many extra possessions that their offense turned into goals.
This unit was backed by rookie Jenika Cuocco. The Northwestern product returned to her alma mater, and the field where she won a national championship, and did what she had been doing all spring season: save the ball and win. Cuocco made nine saves with a 64% save percentage, including stopping the Charging’s final attempt to tie the game in the final 30 seconds.
The defense was dialed, but it was not just them doing their job. The Charm’s offense learned how the Charging slowed them down on June 20 and had no intention of letting that happen again. Ashley Humphrey was on, with three vital assists. The Charm had so many crucial players that the Charging could not key into just one. Ally Kennedy was unstoppable, opening the game with two goals and notching another one to kick off the second quarter. Erica Evans, Grace Griffin and Sydni Black each had two.
The two difference-makers, though, were Sam Apuzzo and Brigid Duffy. The pair are dynamic on their own, but they ran a two-man game a few times that was completely unstoppable. Whether it was Duffy slipping off a pick or Apuzzo running down the alley after getting defenders to jump off her, the rookie and the vet were composed yet relentless, combining for 10 points (5G, 5A).
Duffy called game after receiving a feed from Apuzzo. A streaking Duffy shot the ball, and it bounced out of the cage, so everyone played on. Parros wisely threw her challenge flag, and after review, the refs reversed the call on the field and ruled it a good goal.
Parros also activated Chase Boyle, and the midfielder hit a 62% draw win rate. The Charm did everything they possibly could to give themselves the best opportunity to play for a championship in August. With new pieces, composure, and this win, they improved to 2-1 entering their regular-season finale against the Boston Guard on July 17.
New York: Chaotic fight
The Charging finished their regular season at 2-2. Their championship chances dropped to 32% with Saturday’s loss.
Despite the defeat, the Charging proved that they are a talented team with so much upside. Rookie Ally Reilly played her first professional game and left her mark. Reilly scored the first two goals for New York, then racked another two goals and an assist.
New York’s many former Wildcats combined for 10 points (7G, 3A), including Coykendall’s incredible behind-the-back goal to tie the game at the end of the third quarter. Despite their best efforts, the Charging could not come out with the win, and now they will wait for the outcome of the Guard-Charm game on July 17.
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