Blue Devils fall in a classic TOC semifinal
BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Shore's Alexandra Houlis tries to get a shot off in front of a Mendham defender during the Blue Devils' TOCsemifinal loss on June 5 at Monmouth University. Below, Houlis (l) and teammate Leah Wasserman can't hide their disappointment with the loss.

If you're going to go down, you want to go down fighting.Coaches and players alike will tell you that nothing is more frustrating than not putting forth your best effort when the stakes are high.

Fortunately for the Shore Regional girls lacrosse team, who fell in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions semifinal on June 5, 12-11, to Mendham, the Blue Devils can say to a player that they left everything on the field in what was one of the more entertaining games of the season.

Head coach Chris Raichle's team, who won another hard-fought game, 10-9, over Holy Spirit to claim the South Jersey Group I title on May 29, before topping Mountain Lakes, 9-7, in the first round of the TOC on June 1, gave a talented and experienced Mendham team all it could handle in the TOC semi at Monmouth University.

In fact, the Blue Devils looked like the better team early on, getting the game's first three goals in the opening three minutes. Liz Ferraro scored just 58 seconds in off a pass from Anna Pierce, before Leah Wasserman made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal just 2:10 into the game.

Ali Houlis notched the third goal (also unassisted), and just like that, the Blue Devils looked poised to make a return appearance to the TOC final.

However, Mendham came roaring back with a vengeance, scoring seven of the next nine goals, led by Kaitlyn Messinger (two of her four goals) and Lauren Dykstra (four of her game-high six goals).

Down 7-5 at the half, Shore was reeling a bit, but Kelly Draper made it a one-goal game just 24 seconds into the second half. Once again, Mendham responded,

getting two more goals from Messinger.

Draper, doing her best to keep her team within striking distance, scored again to make it 9-7, before Dykstra notched her fifth goal, making it 10-7 with just over 19 minutes to play.

CHRIS KELLY staff Shore's Anna Pierce fires the ball at the net during the Blue Devils' loss to Mendham on June 5.

With neither team scoring over the next five minutes, it was Draper who came up big once again, finding the net with 14:34 to play, making it 10-8. Shore then made its bid for the win, as Ferraro scored the game's next three goals in a span of 2:13, giving the Blue Devils a short-lived 11-10 lead.

However, the Minutemen were up to the challenge once again, tying the game with another Dykstra goal with 10:27 left, and getting the eventual game-winner from Megan Kelly with just 48 seconds left on the clock.

It was a disappointing finish for the Blue Devils for certain, but far from a disappointing effort. Mendham, who went on to fall in the TOC final to powerhouse Moorestown, 16-6, took every punch the Blue Devils threw at them and countered with just as much fury.

Shore, which finished another brilliant season with a 22-2 mark, didn't deserve to lose the game. Unfortunately, they just didn't do quite enough to win it, either.