GIRLS LACROSSE: BIG FIRST HALF LIFTS WINSLOW

WATERVILLE — It had been more than a week since the Winslow High School girls lacrosse team opened the season with a win at Messalonskee. If the Black Raiders had any rust to shake off in Tuesday night’s game against Camden Hills, it didn’t take long.
Winslow scored 10 unanswered goals in the first half to pull away, taking a 15-6 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference win at Colby College’s Bill Alfond Field.

Winslow’s Taylor Rodriguez, left, outruns Camden’s Ava Baeza during a game Tuesday in Waterville. Morning Sentinel photo by Michael Seamans

“We had pretty much all vacation off from games, so we practiced a few times. Not being outside is pretty tough for us, but we picked it up tonight,” Winslow junior Silver Clukey, who scored six goals, said.
With the scored tied 3-3 early in the first half, back-to-back goals by Clukey gave the Black Raiders (2-0) a 5-3 lead. Winslow continued to apply pressure to the Windjammers, controlling play throughout the half and creating scoring opportunities with a strong transition game.
“Our midfielders were really good transitioning the ball. Also, our attack plays the ball really well. We don’t run away from the ball. They really curl back and go to the ball and make ourselves open,” Winslow coach Sean Carey said.
“We had to start keeping control of the ball and running our plays. We had to posses the ball more or less. We had to just run our offense,” Clukey said. “We’ve got some quick midfielders out there we’re able to pass the ball to our offense.”
A pair of Hailey Grenier goals late in the first half pushed Winslow’s lead to 13-3 at the break. Winslow’s ability to possess the ball and keep the Windjammers backed into their own zone was the difference, Camden Hills (0-1) coach Wade Ward said.
“Winslow goes downhill fast. They move the ball well down the field and kind of overwhelm defensively. They get over the top of you really well,” Ward said.
Camden Hills pulled within eight goals with goals by Alexia Cazernajou and Ashlee Mcintosh, cutting Winslow’s lead to 13-5. Goals from Clukey and Grenier pushed Winslow’s lead back to 10.
Coming off a 12-1 season, the Black Raiders have high expectations. Through two games, they lived up to those expectations.

Winslow’s Savanah Joler heads toward the net under pressure from the Camden defense during a game Tuesday in Waterville. Morning Sentinel photo by Michael Seamans

“This is a really talented group. They work really well together,” Carey said.