April 15, 2023 — Preview: No. 1 Darien (Conn.) vs. Brooklandville St. Paul’s (Md.)

Later immediately at Tierney Discipline in Sparks-Glencoe, Md., an intersectional ladies’ scholastic lacrosse recreation will probably be performed with two of the higher scholastic groups within the U.S. These sides have been ranked within the high 10 final 12 months by this website (No. 9 for the Wave, and No. 1 for St. Paul’s), and have some gamers who’re going to make an affect on the nationwide and worldwide ranges.

Whereas many of the consideration goes to be targeted on the athletes on the pitch, there may be going to be a wrinkle on this recreation that has been not often seen. Printed experiences say that the teaching staffs have agreed to the usage of the 90-second possession clock in the course of the recreation, identical to school video games.

There are a few important factors to this. One, St. Paul’s performs in one in every of solely two leagues in the US that performs with the possession clock; each the “A” and “B” divisions of the Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation of Maryland use the clock, however solely in IAAM matches.

Loads of groups, coaches, and directors will probably be maintaining a tally of how Darien handles the possession clock todau. There are some states, mainly New York, that are contemplating the imposition of the possession clock for ladies’ scholastic lacrosse as early because the 2024 season.

Except for the possession clock debate, one which is bound to increase for a number of years, there’s a recreation scheduled for 1 p.m. Right here’s a have a look at the 2 sides:

DARIEN
Nickname: Blue Wave
Colours: Royal blue and white
Head coach: Lisa Lindley
Present file and TOTC rating: 4-0, No. 1
Final 12 months’s file and TOTC rating: 20-1, No. 9
One 12 months in the past: Completed second within the CIAC Class L Event with a 14-13 loss to New Canaan.
Key gamers: Chloe Humphrey (sr., a), Ryan Hapgood (sr., m), Kaci Benout (sr., d), Hope Schoudel (jr., g), Elizabeth Gonnella (jr., g)
Darien wins this recreation if: they commit lower than 5 possession clock violations. Additionally, I feel the protection must give you a minimum of 12 saves, regardless of who’s within the aim cage.

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Nickname: Gators
Colours: Forest inexperienced and white
Head coach: Mary Gagnon
Present file: 11-1
Final 12 months’s file and TOTC rating: 17-1, No. 1
One 12 months in the past: Gained IAAM Division A Event with a 15-7 win over Glenelg (Md.) Nation College
Key gamers: Natalie Shurtleff (sr., m), Frannie Hahn (sr., a), Lauren Steer (sr., m), Anna Regan (sr., d), Caroline Hoskins (so., m), Kira Balis (jr., m), Susan Radebaugh (jr., g)
St. Paul’s wins this recreation if: the Gators’ protection can restrict Humphrey’s touches. I’ll have an interest to see what sort of protection St. Paul’s throws towards Darien; will they double the ball?