Lady Chiefs lacrosse team falls short in title game

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs lacrosse team was close to winning their first state championship on Saturday evening, but Westminster edged them out in the second overtime period to win their third consecutive state title, 10-9.

Westminster scored first and McIntosh tied it eight minutes into the first half on a goal from Shelby Durden. The pattern of Westminster scoring and McIntosh tying the score continued with Bridget Odom and Sarah Dannelly scoring equalizers after goals from the Lady Wildcats. McIntosh took a lead with 31 seconds left in the first half on a goal from Hannah Mason.

The Lady Chiefs defense kept Westminster from scoring 25 minutes (final 10 minutes of first half, first 15 minutes of second half), while Durden and Senneca Ward netted goals to give the team a 6-3 lead. Westminster then scored four unanswered goals in the span of four and a half minutes to regain the lead.

McIntosh’s Anna Beard tied it up with just over five minutes remainingand she tied the game again 90 seconds later after Westminster took another lead. The Lady Chiefs defense made some huge plays with Amanda Lindsey and Kayla Miles getting some key turnovers in the final two minutes. Unfortunately, McIntosh couldn’t get a shot off and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Odom scored a goal at the buzzer of the first overtime period to make the score 9-8. McIntosh held that lead until there was just over a minute remaining in the second and final overtime period. Westminster scored two goals in the span of 30 seconds, winning the draws after the goals each time to maintain possession and escape with the win and another state title.

“We gave them everything we had, we just fell a little short,” said McIntosh head coach Nick Bellantoni. “They were better than us at that moment. That’s the way a state final is supposed to be though. What a game.”

Bellantoni tried to console his team after the loss, reminding them of their achievement in reaching the finals and telling them that this will give them something to build on and motivate them.

He added a lot of praise for the leadership of his 11 seniors.
“They were great leaders on and off the field,” he said. “We appreciate all of their hard work and dedication. I am going to miss them.”

The Lady Chiefs finish the season with a record of 14-2-1. The loss to Westminster was their only loss to a team from Georgia this season. Westminster was the only team to beat them last year as well.