NEWBURYPORT — It’s not as easy as the Newburyport girls lacrosse team is making it look.
The Clippers are your reigning Division 3 State Champions, and are now just two wins shy of defending that title. And after another dominant outing by the No. 2 seed on Saturday, beating No. 7 Cape Cod Academy, 16-3, in the state quarterfinals, the Clippers have now won their three playoff games by a combined score of 50-8.
Again, what they’re doing is not easy.
But the Clippers are just that talented.
“I feel like we all have really united this season,” said senior captain Lilly Pons. “We’re all just best friends, and we all work really hard during practice and outside of lacrosse. We’ve improved so much from the beginning of the season to where we are now.”
Pons was the star of the show on Saturday.
The Furman commit scored a game-high seven goals, and earlier this week it was announced that she was selected a Regional All-American. With the long history of success that Newburyport and coach Catherine Batchelder have experienced, and all of the Division 1 athletes that have come through the program, Pons is the first to be named an All-American.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all really,” said Pons, whose entire family is synonymous with Newburyport lacrosse. “It was such a shock, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, and also the program. It’s a pretty competitive team to make, so I was shocked when I found out.”
Pons scored the first two goals of the game on Saturday, then assisted teammate Reese Bromby for the third. The Clippers led 6-0 after the first quarter, and initiated a running clock with 3:20 left in the first half. Cape Cod Academy (15-5) fought hard against a powerhouse, especially considering it’s a school of about 100 with a dozen middle schoolers on the roster.
But the Seahawks were out-matched.
“We’re excited,” said Batchelder. “Whenever you can be one of the last four teams left in your division, it’s impressive. These girls have worked hard, and they’re excited to go to another state semifinal.”
Speaking of, Newburyport will play No. 3 Hanover in the Division 3 Final Four on Monday, with the game starting at 5:15 p.m. from Burlington High School.
To wrap up the quarterfinals, though, Bromby finished with a hat-trick, while Olivia McDonald scored four goals. Lily Pilz and freshman Amelia Price were behind the final two tallies, and the Clippers got a great defensive effort from the likes of Grace Chandler, Josie Palma, Rita Cahalane, Ani Mellett and Olivia Foley. Senior goalie Kate Keller wasn’t too busy, but still managed to come away with five saves.
“We’ve worked really, really hard,” said Batchelder. “This is a very different group then to ones we’ve had in the past, and the girls have worked really hard at adjustments. Every single day they come to practice, and they’re ready to learn, improve and work hard. So it’s been a testament to them.”
After the win, the Clippers were presented with both a Final Four trophy, and a banner.
They gladly took a team photo in front of the banner, but — in keeping with tradition — refused to touch the trophy. They’re of course excited to win it, but ultimately, that’s not the one they’re after.
“It’s kind of a tradition that we don’t want to touch it, because that’ll be the last trophy we end up with,” said Pons.
“We want the big one.”
Newburyport 16, Cape Cod Academy 3
Division 3 Quarterfinals
Goals: Lilly Pons 7, Olivia McDonald 4, Reese Bromby 3, Lily Pilz, Amelia Price
Saves: Kate Keller 6
Cape Cod Academy (15-5): 0 0 1 2 — 3
Newburyport (19-2): 6 4 4 2 — 16