Yellow Jackets Earn No. 1 Seed in Girls U15
by Brian Logue | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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Holly Korn and the Minnesota Storm went 2-0-1 to earn the No. 5 seed at the US Lacrosse U-15 Girls' National Championship. © Scott McCall |
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Perhaps smarting after a first-round exit from last year's US Lacrosse Girls' U-15 National Championship, the Yellow Jackets (N.Y.) are the team to beat after giving up just seven goals in three victories during day one of this year's championship. The three-day event is being held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as part of the ESPN RISE Games.
The Yellow Jackets opened the day with a 16-1 victory over OC Fusion (Calif.), then blanked Georgia 16-0 and finished the day with their closest contest, beating Cardinal Girls (Va.) 9-5.
The Yellow Jackets jumped to a 9-4 halftime lead behind four goals and two assists from Cortney Fortunato against Cardinal Girls, but after Alexandra Condon scored the first goal of the half to cut the lead to 9-5, the Yellow Jackets went into stall mode, possessing the ball for a major portion of the half.
"Unfortunately we had to play this game more strategic than we wanted to because it comes down to goals against for our seeding for the next round," said Yellow Jackets' coach Carol Rainson-Rose.
While it may not have been the perfect end to the day, the Yellow Jackets are soaking up the experience in Central Florida.
"They're just enjoying being together," said Rainson-Rose. "The atmosphere is wonderful and the idea of playing different kids from different states is awesome. It's a great opportunity."
Four other teams finished the first day unbeaten. No. 2 seed Top of the Bay (Md.), which knocked out the Yellow Jackets in the opening round of last year's U-15 national championship, went 3-0 allowing just 13 goals. Top of the Bay started slow, but came back to beat Lax Maniax (Fla.) 8-4 in its opener, then rolled past Greater Houston 13-4 and completed the day beating Georgia 11-5.
"It's been fantastic," said Top of the Bay coach Krystin Porcella, who will also be the U.S. coach at the Federation of International Lacrosse Girls' U-19 World Championship next summer in Germany. "It's been a great tournament. It's so neat for the girls to play Georgia, Houston and Florida. Just so neat. I feel cool about it too."
Stars Gold (Va.), the runner up at last year's championship, went 3-0, but had to hold off a late rally by Nor Cal Elite to win its second game 10-9. Stars Gold beat Team Stickhead (Tenn.) 16-3 in its opener and then closed the day beating RC Elite (Fla.) 13-7 to earn the No. 3 seed.
Also going 3-0 were the Pacific Falcons (Calif.), who opened the day with a narrow 9-8 win over Greater Houston (Texas) and then beat Team 180 (Colo.) 11-8 and Lax Maniax Black (Fla.) 11-8. They earned the No. 4 seed.
The final unbeaten team on the opening day was the Minnesota Storm, who finished 2-0-1. Minnesota tied Cardinal Girls (Va.) 10-10 in its opener and then beat Georgia 9-6 and OC Fusion (Calif.) 10-4.
Championship bracket play begins on Monday morning at 8 a.m. The top two seeds – Yellow Jackets and Top of the Bay – receive first round byes. The quarterfinals will also be held on Monday with the semifinals and championship to be held on Tuesday.
First round playoff games for Monday, July
19
8 a.m. – No. 8 Team 180 (Colo.) vs. No. 9 Lax Maniax Black
(Fla.)
8 a.m. – No. 5 Minnesota Storm vs. No. 12 Greater Houston
8 a.m. – No. 4 Pacific Falcons (Calif.) vs. No. 13
Georgia
10:30 a.m. – No. 3 Stars Gold (Va.) vs. No. 14 OC Fusion
10:30 a.m. – No. 6 Nor Cal Elite vs. No. 11 Stickhead
Lacrosse (Tenn.)
10:30 a.m. – No. 7 Cardinal Girls (Va.) vs. No. 10 RC Elite
(Fla.)
No 1 seed - Yellow Jackets (N.Y.) - bye
No. 2 seed - Top of the Bay (Md.) - bye
Quarterfinals begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 19.
