001All right, welcome with everybody to tonight's match up for as the East Longmeadow Spartans take on the Minnechaug Falcons for the Western Mass finals. East Longmeadow finished off the regular season with a 12 and 4 record beating West Springfield 11 to 10 in overtime with an incredible goal by Mack Whitwer. Minnechaug is 12 and 5 beating Northampton 15 to 4 to reach the finals. During the season these two teams face each other off twice. Spartans winning a game and Minnechaug winning the other. Both games ended in a final of 12 to 10. East Longmeadow's looking to make it 3 years in a row for the Western Mass title. Last time Minnechaug was in the finals was in 2023 when they upset East Longmeadow 11 to 10 to get into the finals only to lose to
002Longmeadow 16 to 2. Mack Whitwer up on the draw. I'm here with my co-host Emerson Bovino. How's it going, Bo? Oh, I'm doing well. Nowhere I'd rather be. Minnechaug East Longmeadow Western Mass finals. Doesn't get much better than this. >> Doesn't get much better than that. Mack Whitwer comes up with the draw. Gets the ball over the restraining line looks to set up the East Longmeadow offense. That was McConnell turning around taking the draw against Whitwer. Normally Minnechaug has good success with Kozub doing that and as you can see, Bo, somebody's Who's that? Number 23, O'Connor, is checking to see what type of gum Mack Whitwer is eating today. Right on her heels, which can't blame them. Incredible player, so >> Nope. See what she can do. Sabrina McKechnie with the ball. Today's Hopefully the
003Spartans really crash the cage today. Get some 8-meter attempts as McKechnie's turn around tries to get the ball over to Pellegrino. Pellegrino over to Pelletier. Pelletier behind the cage gets ball over to Lucy Parsons who drops it. Pelletier turns around and temporarily has it and Minnechaug evades the first offensive attempt by the Spartans. Uh, that zone time's going to be so important staying in the attack. Hopefully some good passing there, but we'll see. I would like to Big key to today's success for any team is going to be that that ride. Can you get any force turnovers like they just did right there? Gianna Byron with a good good stick check, but not good enough as the She got a yellow card. >> gets a Kylie Marino gets a yellow card. Never good for the
004Spartans. So, now Kylie for the rest of the game will have to play a little uh less aggressive. The other Last time we played against Minnechaug, Minnechaug very aggressive throughout the the game. They had three yellow cards going into the third quarter. This is the one sport, Bo, where uh most of the parents don't know anything about it. So, couple of the Minnechaug parents yelling the 10 seconds ran off. It's probably the only thing that they know. Yep, makes sense. Makes sense. So, yellow card, that means she has to sit for what? 2 minutes? >> to sit for 2 minutes. Yep, so they'll be up a man for for 2 minutes and a lot of times that leads to a goal because >> Yeah. Spartans love to sit back into the zone defenses. Can't see
005who that is. Ball Ball's up in the air. Hannah Eddy in there and gets called against Hannah Eddy. Don't know exactly what that is and that looks like and I don't know who that is. I can't see the number. It might be Kosub. I think I hear them say "Ooh, no." 23 >> 23 Classic. Looks like Classic scores. Believe that's If that's Classic, that's her first goal of the season according to MassLive. Nice 8-meter goal by her to put Minnechaug up one nothing. Yep. Oh, no. That's O'Connor. No, O'Connor had scored that. >> O'Connor? Yeah. O'Connor scored that that goal. That's O'Connor's 24th goal of the season. Last time she played against the Spartans, she had a a goal in each one of the games and had a goal in the other day against Northampton.
006Ugh, those 8 meters are lethal. They're just It's yeah. >> Love to have them, but hate to have them against you. Love to have them on our side, I guess. >> So, now they switched it up and O'Connor's Taylor taking the draw. Looks like everybody knows where that ball's going to end up. Everybody's lined up. Parsons, McKechnie, Kosub, and O'Connor. Taylor and Whitwer on a draw. Ball goes up. Ball gets knocked out of bounds. Minnechaug East Long Meadow ball. Looks like East Long Meadow will be getting it. This is where I'd like to quickly get the ball over to Whitwer. >> Minnechaug really doing a good job on that ride. Pellegrino gets the gets the ball. Looks to set up the East Long Meadow offense. Quickly gets the ball to Mac Whitwer. As Mac Whitwer
007is going to go in and out and fully collapse by Minnechaug. Minnechaug looking to play which I would believe is a zone defense. >> Yep. That way there they'll be collapsing on Whitmer. Whitmer can do Whitmer things and go in and out of pretty much everybody. Look to get in 8 meter and that's a bad screen. Ooh. Bad screen on McKechnie. >> You know you got to just be standing there. You know that from basketball. Just stand there. You try to want to get a hip or a shoulder into that and the Spartans with another turnover and waiting to get that clock to be running out so Kylie Marino can get back into it. The game. As Lee turns around, goes around the cage. Good job by Byron to chase her off. Nice in and
008out move by Lee. Good save by Julia Gray. Hannah Eddy turns around and gets a couple of empty checks on her and she sees some open space. Kylie Marino back in. Spartans have the numbers. Hannah Eddy with just more one defender finds an open Pelletier. Pelletier gets stick checked from behind. Good job to stay with it and gets the ball over to Pellegrino. Pellegrino behind the net. Pellegrino up to McKechnie. McKechnie does a roll dodge. McKechnie goes in double teamed on her. Another turnover from McKechnie. Minnechaug is just swarming the Spartans. Just collapsing. >> Every time they go in. Yeah, Spartans are going to have to uh some point I'd call a timeout and readdress uh what they're going to be doing offensively. Right now Minnechaug up one nothing. 7:40 to go in the first
009quarter. Kozub with the ball kicks it up top to O'Connor over to Taylor over to Scatalini, back to Taylor. Gets the ball over to Kozub. Kozub behind the net to Stackwitz behind the cage with Kylie Marino. Now with the Spartans in a man defense here? >> No, yes. They played man to man to man which is The last few years they've always played zone and they do a really good job in zone for different coach, different setup. He likes to do man to man. Which it's good and bad. We have a lot of good defenders, but if you get a mismatch that's when it's that's when it's tough. Good check by McEachnie. Julia Gray comes out of the net. Julia Gray gets the ball up to McEachnie. >> Yeah. McEachnie will be off to the
010races. You hear the Minuteman coach telling slow it down. McEachnie pulls back and she'll restart the Spartans offense. Cuz I like that quick transition. That's I like getting out of the back and getting forward. Spartan coach calling to move the ball around. Jane Pelletier turns around, sees an opening, nothing there, gets the ball Pellegrino. Pellegrino over to Kylie Marino. Kylie Marino throws the ball just behind Mac Whitmer. And the Spartans will turn the ball over yet once again. That's what? Four attempts on the Spartans down here and four uh four turnovers. Not a way to win a game, but luckily >> going to need to clean that up a little bit, but plenty of time still, so They did that the first time in And uh our last home game against them. The Spartans didn't
011even get a shot off until the last uh uh I think minute of the first quarter. So, Minnechaug doing the same thing to them now. As Taylor with the ball or Taylor now with the ball. Gets the ball over to Goodreau behind the net to Lee. Lee to Goodreau. Up top to Taylor. Minnechaug really, really, really patient with their cuts and everything. Sergenko gets the ball behind Stackowicz out to Cosa. Cosa looking to take it in. Nothing there. Kicks it back out to Sergenko. Sergenko goes around. She's marked by Mac Whitwer. Sergenko turns around, goes to shot. Good job by Mac Whitwer to have that stick. I believe that was Was that Mac or was that Mary? >> It might have been Mary. Good job by Mary Devoy. Hit the stick check and then Sergenko
012looked to step in the the crease and it'll be the Spartans ball. Kylie Marino, fresh legs, running the ball up the field. She gets a head of steam. Nobody's really going to be able to stop her. Yep. As that happens the entire season. I'd like to see Kylie just keep taking that one in. >> Yep. Let Kylie get a head of steam and just keep going in. Good job by the freshman Pellegrino. And Ava Pellegrino will look to be getting the Spartans first attempt at an 8-meter attempt. Kind of a difficult angle for the righty. Sometimes they look to pass this off. She runs it in, goes up and over and puts the Spartans on the board. Good job by Ava Pellegrino to put the Spartans on the board. Tie it all up, one a
013piece with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. Love to see that from Pellegrino. Big game. Young player, but ready for the moment. So, definitely love to see that. Yep, big big game. A lot of times those freshmen have a tough time in big games and Pellegrino shying away from taking one-on-one. Gets one goal past the goalie for her ninth goal of the season. Mack Whitworth Taylor up on the draw. Kind of feel like Chick Hearns and Johnny Most up here, Emerson. I don't know who that is. >> [laughter] >> But like I'll take your word for it. >> and the Celtics announcers from the '80s. Oh. Your dad will appreciate it. >> Yeah, he will. >> I would try to slide one in there and you you'd know who it was. >> I
014But Tried. Mack Whitworth, Sabina McKechnie feeds Whitworth. Whitworth goes in and out of four girls and that is a goal. And that is how you do it. Count them. Most of the times I just count the girls as Mack goes by and when she gets that full head of steam, nobody's going to be stopping her. Definitely has the best stick handles in Western Mass and goals like that kind of proves it. Spartans now up two to one. With a great goal by Mack Whitworth. That's Mack's Guess how many that is on the season. 100? 96. 96 goals scored on the season. Not taking anything away from a lot of other teams, but we start getting in different divisions, you can rack up the goals and Mack's been doing it all season long against the toughest
015competition in Western Mass. Just incredible. That was I think five, six defenders. Just just incredible. She gets that out of speed, you just count it. Yep. So, now they change it up. Kozub on the draw against Whitworth. So, what's the strategies with the draw here? >> Uh Kozub's a lefty. That's why it looks a little different. >> Okay. >> So, you can see she really gets into it. She'll As soon as they put the ball and the stick, you'll see her she'll start to lean back a little bit more try to gain possession. Mhm. Kozub does a good job with a with a self draw. She Got to do it again? Yeah, they'll have a redraw cuz the ball's got to go up over their heads. Got it. I'd almost like to see like what
016Sabina's doing right there. Cuz if Kozub's going to turn around, put the ball into that space, just let Mack and Kozub both go at it. >> Yep. See the other Minnetonka player telling the other Minnetonka player go over there, that's where she's going to go with it. Yes. >> just what it is. Hey, get the ball in the open space, that should be an empty stick check on Kozub. Yep. So with that right there, Mack's going to pick it up. You're not allowed to hit the other stick down. >> Got it. You said it exactly how it played out. >> would've been in the face. Mack Whitwer Let's keep going. >> yeah, she'll If she gets a good head of steam, she'll do it, but right now she's got she'll switch that off and get
017the >> Cuz I know that's that's not as deep of a stick. >> She scored a bunch of goals this season doing that. So now we have Mack Whitwer and Sabina McKechnie looking to do a little two-man. Guys are sending a couple of the cutters. Everybody should want to clear out. McKechnie goes around the corner, nothing there. McKechnie goes back around the corner, finds a little bit of steam, goes left-handed, gets a shot off. Nice save by the Minnetonka goalie and Spartans will start Good heads up by Kylie Marino letting Mack just take that ball in over there. You don't have to work to have Mack get the ball. >> Yep. Mack puts it when she gets face guarded, she's got to put on a few extra mileage of uh running around just to get
018open. Yep. But there she can just start right off with that take off. >> Yep, exactly. Gets the ball over to Marino. Kiley Marino, see if Kiley can find a seam. Gets the ball back to Pellegrino. Pellegrino to Marino over to McKechnie. McKechnie behind the cage. Gets the ball over to Parsons. Parsons has got the wheels, she'll turn around try to Now they're calling coach Cowls calling out a play. Pellegrino gets it, gets it temporarily displaced. Good job to stay up, stay with it. Nothing there, gets the ball over to Marino. Marino over to McKechnie. Looking to find somebody that'd be a cutter. Nobody there. McKechnie goes in and out and McKechnie will get herself an eight-meter attempt. >> This is where the the Spartans have had a lot of success going against Minnechaug. It
019seems like whenever they find a seam, Minnechaug always ends up creating a foul. This time McKechnie on the eight-meter attempt. McKechnie goes in, gets the ball, stick check from behind. Good job by the Minnechaug player. Great work by Parsons. Gets it and takes her shot and gets hit from behind. Minnechaug comes up with the ball with 56 seconds left in the quarter. Minnechaug has the numbers as Lusic is going up the field. She throws the ball all the way back. Good job by Pelletier to stay on that. Mack Whitmer gives chase and now Minnechaug will get the ball over the restraining line set up their offense. They should wait till the last the last shot. >> Yep. Taylor with the ball. Get the ball to Kozib. Kozib turns around, throws the ball and the ball
020gets disrupted. Kylie Marino comes up with it. Kylie Marino has 13 seconds to get down the field. If she can get down there, she can have the numbers. As she does, she has seven. 6 5 Kylie Marino THROWS IT INTO WOW, WHAT A GREAT JOB. Kylie Marino runs the ball down the field 80 yards, finds the open Julie Julia Illingsworth and Illingsworth puts a dagger into Minnechaug with a second left to go in the quarter to put the Spartans up three to one. That lethal speed from Kylie Marino. >> What a feed by Marino and what a great finish by Illingsworth. Illingsworth did that first game of the season. She scored a hat trick against Minnechaug, three goals just like that. Good job by the Spartans to take the the lead with just only one
021second left in the quarter. Whitworth and Taylor will take the draw and whoever can get it in a second just gets a better stats from MassLive. Yep. Great work from transitioning defense to offense. That's love to see that, so. Love to see a great great heads up. 9 seconds left and down the field and the Spartans go into the first end of the first quarter where they're up three to one. Stay tuned everyone. >> Hey. >> All right, we are back with second quarter action. Goal scorer for for that quarter was Mac Whitmer or Ava Pellegrino and the last second nail-biter was uh Julia Illingsworth for the Spartans and O'Connor had the long goal for for uh Minnechaug. Spartans have looked great in transition. Great when they speed it up, so hopefully they keep working
022with that. Uh minimize the turnovers and I think we'll be good. >> That's the last couple possessions there's hardly any turnovers. I mean well miss the miss shot, stuff like that, but uh yeah, definitely I I like when the Spartans play at a faster pace. When you play at that fast pace, it's it's it's good. They do a lot better when they're fast. When they start slowing it down, it's I know it's a long Luckily, we have a nice nice cloudy day Yep. for for that. Otherwise, if it was like yesterday, that would be be rough to play in that. So, Mac Whitmer and Taylor back up on the draw. This time Kozub's going to come up with it. Kozub gets gets fouled, which is which is all right cuz now she just goes back
023behind the 12-m and they'll look to start up their offense. Kozub over to Scattolini. Scattolini to Taylor. Taylor back to Kozub. Kozub looking to find a cutter. Nobody there. Good job by the Spartans marking everybody up. Kozub looking to try and find a seam. Nothing there. Gets the ball behind the the net to Stackowitz. Stackowitz kicks it all the way back. Mary DeVoy stops that. Stops Lee from driving in. Scatalini comes up with it. Scatalini looking to try to find a seam. Looks like Mac Whitworth got called with a uh a spear or legal check. Up a little too close to the the head. And it looks like Serginko. I was saying Yeah, I was saying Scatalini before Serginko. Serginko turns around and takes a shot. Bounces it just in front of Julia Gray. Julia
024Gray can't get a stick on it. Minichog stops the bleeding a little bit to uh Oh. No, wrong score up on the board. Should be 3 to 2. Look at Uh they're looking at me. You let them know it's 3-2 not 4-1. They're looking at me like I'm not controlling the scoreboard. Yeah, [laughter] blaming you for everything. That's what they do. >> It's what they do. It's what they do. Yeah. It's all right. Mac Whitworth and Taylor up on the draw. Ball goes up. It's knocked loose. Mac Whitworth will come up with it. Mac Whitworth with a head of steam gets past her restraining line. She should go by everybody. She finds Oh. Looking to find a Pelletier and it's disrupted. Good job by Pellegrino to turn around and displace it. That should be a
025car. No. Looked to be a little That looked a like a little bit much, but >> Yeah, it looked like Scatalini got a little bit up in up in Pellegrino's face. Uh-oh. Mikaela Kekmek with the ball. Kekmek gets the ball over to Marino. Marino gets it to Mary Devoy. Mary Devoy Devoy join the attack from defense. >> Yeah, well well they they tend to do this because Mac Whitmer they they literally Oh, they're Yeah, they're playing Minnechaug is playing a man down. Good job by Lucy Parsons to get that. Parsons turn around tries to get the ball to Pelletier. The ball's still loose. Illingsworth is on it and Minnechaug comes away with it. But yeah, they're they're literally playing a man down against us and they're just face guarding Mac when we do that that
026open that open player. Ball gets Minnechaug breaks the gets the ball over the restraining line and Minnechaug will will start up their offense. I look down. I don't know who has the ball right now. I think Taylor has the ball. Taylor goes in, gets the ball knocked away by uh Yeah, Mac Whitmer knocks the ball away. Taylor goes in, stepped inside the crease. And now the Spartans have Looks like Minnechaug is not even attempting to press. Yeah, well they're getting into a little bit of a zone, but give Kylie a head of steam and Kylie should just be able to run right through that. She gets the ball over to Hannah. Hannah gets the ball off to Lucy Parsons. >> space but then they settle into that zone. Just pack it in. >> They're They
027They're not They're not letting the Spartans take off. They're going to give them a little like half half court press, I'd call that. >> Yep. And then just sit into that zone defense and let the Spartans force something. Marino gets the ball over to Whitwer. She just had to work so hard to even get the ball though. Ugh. And Whitwer will get an 8-m attempt. That's That's one of the things that Minnetonka has a tough time doing. They said earlier this is you know what are going to be our third 8-m attempt and Whitwer on the 8-m attempt. Mack always dangerous on this side. Mack Whitwer 8-m attempt. Mack goes in. Gets the ball up and over the head. Mack Whitwer scores her second goal of the game but that's a good job by I
028don't know who that Was it 23? 22? I think it's Yeah, that plastic. She does a good job. That's the second time. Looked like she got a a stick on uh Mack Whitwer on that one. The last 8-m she looked like she knocked that out of McKechnie's stick. Nevertheless, the Spartans up. Should be four to two. Yep. Oh goodness. There's some scoreboard troubles here but Yes. Who scored that last You remember who scored that other goal for Chog? I don't. Sergentko. We'll give it to Oh yes. Yeah, I believe cuz she had Was it the eight? attempt? >> 8-m yes. >> Yeah, so little tough time with the scoreboard today. I'm sure we'll hear a bunch of the Minnechaug fans yelling and this time it's the official turning around and telling what the score is
029supposed to be. Funny thing is this time I don't hear anybody from Minnechaug yelling at the Spartans for the scoreboard when they they like it when it's three to three. They don't like it when it's four to two. Not all Not all the Minnechaug fans. >> [laughter] >> I know, in the book that's all that matters. Yeah. Everybody knows what the score is going to be. Having a little fun here with the Minnechaug fans, of course. Some of them. Funny how that works out, but we're all fixed. We're ready. >> Minnechaug fans can take jokes, unlike the Longmeadow fans. So, we're all settled with the scoreboard. Mac Whitworth and Taylor back up on the draw. I think we're a little too close in the Minnechaug section to be saying that out loud. >> yeah. It's
030all right. Ah, nobody will say anything. >> Yeah, no one. I'm with you. No one will say exactly. >> you. Kyla Marino in and kicks it to open space. Can Marino get it? Marino with a little bit of a body check. >> [cheering] >> Marino with just a little bit of a body check. Look like Ray Lewis on that hit right there. Minnechaug gets the ball over the restraining line. O'Connor gets the ball to Lee to set up Minnechaug's offense. Lee with the ball behind the cage. Looking to do little roll dodge, turns around, takes a shot. Looks like almost like a change up the ball. Out of bounds. Good job by Julia Gray come out of the net. Nobody from Minnechaug backing up that shot. Julia Gray comes up with the ball. And look
031at how far back they're falling. >> Yeah, they're just they're going to Yep. I mean it's smart. You saw them there what we were saying. They're really good in transition. They're they're giving up the transition. They're doing a little bit of a a half of half a ride. Yep. Get the ball over. Pellegrino gets the ball over the restraining line, sets up the Spartans offense. Pellegrino over to McKechnie. There they are and Whitworth again just right Yep. >> right in our airspace. Yep, give them Well, when you score that many goals and you're averaging seven seven goals a game, it's it's a little uh little tough. Yep. McKechnie goes around the screen, turns around, gets in Good job by Mac to set the screen. McKechnie goes around it and get herself an 8-m attempt. So,
032if you can if you can do some things like that and take away what their defensive scheme is, it's that's that's good. This is a little bit of a tough angle here, too, though. Yeah. Yep, it's a tough one. >> so She's a righty, so she should try to go by the goalie. She should fake up and then go low. She goes up over the goalie and so the McKechnie gets gets a goal. She's up on the board to put the Spartans up five to two. Last time McKechnie played against Minnechaug, she had five goals. Mac Whitworth had six goals. Emma Crimmins had one and Jane Pelletier had one. Yeah, McKechnie and Whitworth the brunt of the offense, so definitely like to see them keep going in, getting those 8-meter calls because like you said
033it seems like they give them up a lot, so definitely got to take advantage of that. >> Yeah, if they if you can start having those your your speedsters can get Lucy Parsons to drive in or Kylie Marino Pellegrino did it earlier, put the Spartans up on the board first and all those little things that everybody else starts putting some points up on the board it'll uh really change up Minnechaug's uh game plan. Whitwer up on the draw against Taylor. Ball goes into the middle. Kylie Marino there. McKegney there to pick the ball up. Yeah, it's just McKegney and Kozub. McKegney goes by her. Gets the ball over the restraining line. See how Kozub does that? That's really tough when you have those attackers really really making you work every single inch to do that.
034Like to see more of the Spartans do that on an offense. McKegney over to Parsons. Parsons behind the net to Crimmins. Crimmins over to Pellegrino. Pellegrino finds the wide-open Mac Whitwer. And Mac Whitwer behind the X. I like this movement I'm seeing at offense here a little bit. >> Yes. Yep. Sending a lot of those cutters, turn around and make the defenders really look which way they're going. Let Mac do her thing. Mac goes in. There we go. Mac turns around and takes a left-handed shot. Mac Whitwer with her third goal of the game. And I've been saying it all season long, nobody in Western Mass has an answer for Nope. >> for Mac Whitwer. They know it's coming. They know it's going to happen. And what do you do? Time out Minnechaug. Spartans up
0356 to 4 with 4:12 to go in the second quarter. Defense! >> All right, and we're back after a quick timeout from the Minnechaug coach. Sure he's giving them a I don't know, triple team Mack when she gets the ball. I I I don't know. Big next 4 minutes and 12 seconds here. Like to see them go into halftime with a nice cushion so they can put some more goals on the board. Last time these two met they went into halftime 6-5 Minnechaug. Uh I think your dad pulled the light did Easthampton a favor by unplugging it. And uh Easthampton redid that and they ended up winning it. Spartans last couple games have all been nail nail biters. The other day West Springfield and Mack Whitmer had an overtime goal and the other goal against
036West Springfield she scored in the last second behind the back. >> yes. I was watching I was watching that one on El Cat. I It's a great night there. Yeah, that's a crazy crazy goal by Mack. She does some unbelievable things. Fun to watch. I don't care what team you're rooting for, she she's fun to watch. >> Yep. Ball goes up. Mack knocks the ball loose. Koser tries to get it and Mack Whitmer comes up with it. Minnechaug steps up and Spartans will restart their offense. Such tenacity by Whitmer even with the draw stick, which I know that's not easy with the draw stick getting those getting forward like that. So >> No. Not at all. Mack Whitmer with the ball gets the ball off to McKechnie. McKechnie with the ball as Whitmer switches sticks.
037Pellegrino with the ball. Mary DeVoy coming. Yeah, that's that's a good little good little play if almost you wish the girls would give a little more notice knowing that she's coming in. >> Yep. Mary DeVoy the UMass Boston commit should be playing there next next spring. Normally head Spartans rely a lot on her on defense at times they can rely on her to be an offensive weapon. Kylie Marino turns around, throws the ball in the Wow! Wow! Nice little pass by Marino to find Illingsworth. Illingsworth behind fires one right behind the goalie for her second goal of the game. And like I said before, first game of the season, that's what uh that's what Illingsworth did in that game. And she's doing it again here. Such a great finisher. Just That's sometimes that's all you
038need, someone to put it in the back of the net, so. That's it. Pellegrino drove in, drew the double double team, found the open Illingsworth, and Illingsworth buries it in the back of the net to put the Spartans up 7-2 with 2:50 left in the first half. One of the big problems I think that the Spartans tend to always have for uh when we get leads like this, we never really just keep the the pedal to the metal. >> Yep. They they tend to slow down, let other things happen, and Mac Whitworth goes through everybody and gets ball over their straining line, looks to set up the Spartans offense once again, finds Lucy Parsons. Look like Parsons was trying to do a little flick of the wrist just throwing a ball over the net. Crimmins
039there to back it up. Crimmins kicks it all the way back out to McKecney. And the Spartans will set up their offense. Jane Peltier checking back in. If they can get the ball to Jane right in front of the cage, it's I don't think I don't think too many Western Mass goalies have made a save on her when she's shooting it from 5 ft away. She definitely has a ton of power behind that shot. >> Another great finisher I've seen. Just always makes the most of those opportunities right by the goal. So, definitely be looking for her. She'll be playing hockey next year. I think at Connecticut. >> Yes. Yeah. With teammate Gianna Byron. Not playing hockey, but at Connecticut College. So. >> Byron's doing what? Track and field and >> Yep. and cross country.
040>> Yep. There you go. Nice. Pellegrino turning around trying to find a seam. Nothing there. Gets the ball over to Parsons. Parsons looking to have just a one-on-one. Nothing there. Gets the ball to Crimmins. Crimmins to Peltier. Peltier finds the open Whitwer. Now it's Whitwer's turn to see if she can save it down. Peltier You know, good screen by Pellegrino. Mack Whitwer zooming in and out. Turns around and gets a goal, but whistle before that. Mack Whitwer will get herself a 8-m attempt. And it looks like Adam one of the Minnechaug players will be getting a a yellow card and that's Sergenko. >> Yep. No advantage in lacrosse like soccer. Wish they just let the goal stand, but >> They changed that in in the college. They do that now. So, you you get the
041advantage, you get a shot. If the goalie makes a save, then they pull it back. But, still in high school, it's it's uh if you get the shot with they call it before, but sometimes the ref will hold the flag up. Makes sense. >> the flag, but yeah. It's all situational. I don't know the rules. Mack Whitwer 8-m attempt. Mack goes in and around, turns around, and gets a shot off and scores another goal. Mac Whitmer with her fourth goal of the season, her fourth goal of this game, put the Spartans up 8 to 2 with 1:13 left in the first half. I'd like to see the Spartans creating chaos for that zone. I think that a lot of the movement has looked good past couple of minutes, so more chaos they can create, more
042things open up, and Yes, I mean it it it eventually they're not going to be able to sit back in the in the zone because then we'll be able to, you know, you want to get a six goals in lacrosse is Yeah. >> It's not much of a lead. So, you kind of want to really really just keep that >> Yeah, keep it down, but then eventually they're going to have to uh play a lot more man-to-man because then you could just really sit out. >> Yep. Then, when they do that, there's a lot more gaps. Cuz there's also no clock here, so on in the offensive like cuz I know in college there's the clock in the in the attack, but not here. 90 90 seconds in college, which which is I think it's
043a lot a lot more better cuz otherwise you can just literally run out of run out the time. Oh, I have experience with that. Just I I know a little I know a little something about that, so. >> bit about that being a the perennial goalie for uh the Spartans the last few years. Do you have over 1,000 saves in uh your high school career? Close. Close. Close. Not quite, though. Few less? Few less. And good job by Pellegrino to turn around. She was going in and out, looking like she was going to pass the ball to Lucy Parsons, but she ended up getting a stick to the round the face, and Pellegrino going in for an 8-m attempt. Pellegrino runs it in, turns around, and takes a shot. Nice Nice save by the Minnechaug
044goalie as they quickly get at the ball up the field. They get the ball up to Kozip. Kozip with 30 seconds left. Kozip only one defender to go. It's Gianna Byron. Good job by Byron in staying front. Good good job by the Spartans to Good job by Gianna Byron to slow that play down. Kozip looking to to force the shot, not having the the scoreboard to her uh in front of her. Tough to know how much time is left as looked to force a shot off with 15 seconds. Julia Grace smartly just holding on to the wall to have the Spartans taking a eight-to-two lead going into the second half. Stay tuned, everybody. >> Mhm. >> in our half action as the Spartans have an 8-2 lead. Mack Whitwer comes up with a draw. She
045gets the ball over the restraining line. Spartans really that's that's been the difference maker bow I think so far in this uh this game so far. The Spartans really really winning a lot of the draws. I mean when you can control that draw then just go right into the offensive zone. So oh. What's that? Well, Mack Whitwer gets hit with a charging call. I think it was a charging call. Looked like a charging call. Could be. Normally the only times I see a charging is when you back into somebody but nevertheless Mack Whitwer did good stick check from behind. Jane Pelletier in on it. Pelletier turning around shields the ball away scoops the ball up and away and it'll be Minnechaug ball. Oh, Minnechaug switches the field over to Lusic. Ball can't get handled. Lusic
046turn around. McEachnie with an empty stick check. As Sergiyenko comes up with it. Sergiyenko gets the ball over the 50-yard line. Giving chase by Parsons. Good job by Parsons to stay in front of her. And they get the ball over to Kozeb. Kozeb all the way back out to Taylor. And Minnechaug will set up their offense. Sergiyenko kicks the ball back over to I don't know that Lusic. Lead to Kozeb all the way back up to Taylor. Looking Kozeb and Taylor looking to do a two-man Good job by Byron to stay with that. Never easy to stay with the quick and speedy Kozeb. And Gianna Byron does this. Kozeb kicks the ball back out to Lusic. Lusic going around the back of the cage. >> [snorts] >> Lusic still with the ball. Kicks the ball
047out to O'Connor. O'Connor out to Sergiyenko. Sergiyenko back out to Taylor. Taylor with the ball looking to try to go by Mac Whitworth. Takes his gets a shot off and Taylor ends up getting a a goal for Minnechaug to cut the Spartans lead down to to five. First half scores were Sergiyenko with a goal and O'Connor with a goal. For the Spartans, it was Whitworth with four, Illingsworth with two, McEachnie with one, and Ava Pellegrino with one. Nevertheless, Minnechaug is up on the board to start is up on the board first in the second half. There were some good defensive plays in there, but it's just they were in the zone for so long. They wear you down, so. Yeah, and good job by Minnechaug to find those find a seam and get a shot
048off. >> Yep. Back up on the draw with Taylor and Whitworth. I think pretty soon this this sun's going to play in a big part of the game. >> Yep. Getting into the eyes is Mac Whitworth with the ball. Goes in and out, gets 8-m attempt. And this is here, somebody should be yelling should be switching sticks with her. Cuz Mac's still got the 8-m stick. Or got the draw stick. So, this is the first I've ever seen Mac Whitworth with a draw stick on an 8-m attempt. >> Interesting. See what she can do. Would she have been allowed to switch it, or >> she Yeah, she could have switched it with one of the attackers. Mac Whitworth goes in, turns around, gets squandered by a bunch of other girls. Oh, wow. >> Oh. I
049don't know about that. One official One official was turning around calling one thing, this other far official Mac Whitworth got hit in the face with a stick, and there was no call. It's ridiculous. What No, no, they You got to play that back. Oh. Bad luck for the Spartans as But You know what? It all works itself out. >> Worked itself out in the end. Just being a Spartan fan right here, I'd give the ball back to Mack Whitworth and just say Take it right back in. >> Go do what you just did. Mack probably uh maybe wants a break from that one. McKechnie out with the ball. Gets the ball over to Parsons. Parsons to Pelletier. Pelletier runs in. Pelletier Nothing there. She kicks the ball all the way out to Parsons. Parsons to
050McKechnie. At some point if you're the Spartans and you could do that. Mack Whitworth goes all around, turns around. Still, I don't know how she held on to that. Still with the ball, gets hit. Gets her goggles knocked down once again. Mack Whitworth still with the ball, turns around, goes in. Finds Pelletier and Pelletier throws the ball just high. >> What a great pass. Good job by Mack to find Pelletier. Just misses high on it. Good job by Crimmins back that up. Gets Julia gets the ball all the way back to McKechnie. McKechnie with the ball back in there. McKechnie's turn to find a seam. McKechnie turns around and McKechnie with the ball. McKechnie you're normally not knocking people down. [laughter] Using all 105 lb of her. >> That was great. That's why I don't
051think you get a charging call on that. >> So, McKechnie still with the ball. Looking to set up the offense. At some point you wonder if Minnechaug's going to come out and try to pressure them, but >> You would think. I mean, I think when you start getting closer into the fourth quarter, but they know that Ooh. They I think they know that when when they do that They got to round them. >> Yeah. They're really just like packing the box, playing that tight zone. I don't almost pull it back and make them come out. >> Yep. Yep. But I mean they're they're they're waiting for us to make a mistake. McKechnie with the ball. McKechnie gets the ball over to Sand. >> Ooh. That's That's a check from behind. I was going to say.
052Sand with a 12-m attempt. Sand smartly kicks it out to McKechnie. McKechnie over to Parsons. And McKechnie just sitting there waiting. McKechnie looking to do a dodge. McKechnie does roll, goes around. Looking to find somebody. Nobody there. McKechnie pulls out. You can almost do this for the next 6 minutes. Go ahead. Yeah. Make them make them play you. >> At some point I would be That's what I would be doing. Make them come out. Spartans are I mean they're only up five. Still a lot of time left, but Now McKechnie goes around. She's met by one, two. McKechnie will get herself an 8-m attempt. Like we were just talking about that. Every time Every time the Spartans get into into the 8-m area I don't know if it's cuz Minnechaug's just not I mean they're
053playing zone, so they're not getting out of the way quick enough and then you get shooting space, so السبina McKechnie getting 8-m attempt. Sabina McKechnie 8-m attempt. McKechnie goes in looking to go five hole. Another good save by Minnechaug and Lucy Parsons there backing that up. Macwit, we're going to bring it in with Spartans holding an 8-3 lead with 4:50 to go in the uh third quarter. Spartans um retain possession though, so it's good to keep the ball down here. Macwit, we're with the ball. >> [crying] >> Macwit finds a seam out of nowhere, turns around takes a shot, misses just wide. Lucy Parsons there to get it. Good Good job by Lucy Parsons to quickly get get to the end line before anybody from Minnechaug. Minnechaug's the home field, they should be setting up
054the balls. >> Yeah. So, quote the ref. >> [cough] >> Ref calling a stoppage time on that. >> Yeah. And the Spartans have done a great job backing up the ball on both ends. We saw Julia Gray do it on the other end earlier, and the attackers have followed that ball the way out, so. Yes, they've been doing a good job not not letting Minnechaug. Minnechaug really keeping those two girls right by the cage. >> [snorts] >> I'm almost fun, Mac. They could They could be saying just pull back. >> Yep. Pull back and eat the last 4 minutes of it. They're not doing anything. Now you hear Yep. Now you hear the coaches from Minnechaug saying come to the ball. Mac knowing enough just to eat the time. I just look at everyone in
055one spot. It's all >> Yeah. Mac looking to do roll. Nobody gets the ball over to Pelletier. Pelletier back to Whitworth. Whitworth turns around. She goes in and out and finds a seam. And Mac Whitworth will get an 8-m attempt. I mean, that's if you're if you're Minnechaug, it's awfully tough to watch 4 minutes of the clock get taken off only only for it to end in 8-m attempt. >> Yep. Mac Whitworth 8-m attempt. Mac goes in, goes by the goalie. Ball is loose. >> I think it fell out of her stick and This time a Minnechaug player is Minnechaug player is down. Lucic Lucic get injured. I don't know what happened with that. It's an awful lot of confusion when the girl goes in there and there's three girls swinging sticks and Mac Whitworth
056looking to take a shot. Let's see if Minnechaug will wait another 3 minutes before anything [snorts] happens. News 40 here looking to get some plays of the week in >> Yep. It's been a lot of Don't think you're going to get much plays when score is up 8-3. Not only not only this for for the uh the Spartans you're you're really letting the the Spartans midfielders legs get uh you know get back. They're not They're not doing a lot of running. This time McKechnie with the ball. See how long McKechnie will hold on to the on to the ball. McKechnie goes around the screen. Nothing there. McKechnie does a roll, nothing there. She pulls out. Which I would think the last thing you want to give Sabina McKekney, McKenna Whitmer, and Kylie Marino is fresh
057legs, but Exactly. We'll see. We'll see. McKekney with the ball and I mean, definitely possession-wise, Spartans holding uh 90% of it this this quarter. I mean, it's boring, but you know what? The Spartans have a five-goal lead. They're trying to make something That was a stick to the head. That'll be a yellow card. >> Yeah. So, now Minnechaug with her their second yellow card as DeBronsky >> Yep. gets That's just tough. McKekney drops the ball. DeBronsky DeBronky goes into uh try to try to get it and ends up hitting McKekney in the head. So, that makes it even tougher for Minnechaug with a minute and a half left and they're down a player, so see what the Spartans do. They can no longer man-mark Mac Whitmer. McKekney sees that, and I'm sure Whitmer will just
058eat the clock. >> Yep. Hopefully eat the clock for the next minute 20. Gets the ball to McKekney. Pulls back to Whitmer, and that's that's what I would do. Hold off for another minute and then just take it in with 10 seconds left. Mac Whitmer turns around, takes a shot. Minnechaug gets it. Now, Minnechaug up the up the way as Sergenko's looking to go up. Good stick check by McKekney. Ball's loose. Parsons in on that. Mac Whitmer gives it chase and Yes. >> Good job by Mac Whitmer. Oh! Oh! Ooh, there's a late hit by Sergint oh. That ball was out of bounds and I I should think the official should be talking about that cuz that that should be a yellow card if that ball's out of bounds and kind of a late hit.
059I mean, she's going in there playing hard. I like the aggressive play on both sides but when the ball's that close to being out of bounds and I'm sorry to say it, they know it's Mac Miller. You wonder if it's if it's somebody else, do they do they go in that hard? I don't I don't think they do but Totally agree. Totally agree. Not that any of our girls haven't done anything that they shouldn't have done at times but >> [clears throat] >> Mac Miller with the ball, 37 seconds left to to go in the quarter. From coach Cal telling Mac on But in classic Mac fashion, back up. No problem. Here she goes. Like nothing ever happened. Mac have she has 30 seconds and she'll wait for the the last shot. >> [snorts] >>
060Hopefully they wait with few seconds left, gets the ball over to McKechnie. McKechnie goes in, finds a seam. McKechnie with the ball, turns around, takes a shot. Takes a twizzler, the ball goes out wide. Kermans with the ball. Is the clock going to stop? No, it's fine. It's fine. Yeah, and they'll they'll go into the third quarter with the Spartans up eight to three. >> Mhm. >> All right, we are back with fourth quarter action as the Spartans have an 8 to 3 lead over the Minnechaug Falcons. The only lone goal ball that entire quarter was Taylor. >> Yep. And I think she scored that goal the first minute and a half into the quarter. And I think the Spartans had possession for maybe the other you know, they must have possession for 11 minutes.
061Now that 11 minutes, I think eight of them they were just standing around outside, so Minnechaug's going to have to change something up on their defensive front. Can put a little more pressure on the Spartans, but we will see fourth quarter action. Down to the last 12 minutes for the Class A Western Mass finals. Ball is up as O'Connor comes up with the ball. O'Connor gets the ball up to Kozub. And Minnechaug will start their offense. Sergentinko with the ball getting the ball over to Taylor. And Minnechaug is offsides, so it should go to the Spartans ball. Now the girl who was off for the yellow card just went back on. So that was I think Did you say >> No, her her time Yeah, she's off now. But they were they were offsides first,
062so the Spartans should start off with that ball. Yep. It's an unforced turnover for Minnechaug. Have very few possessions in the second half. Right now almost Kylie could just sit back here. If I'm coach Cal, I'm telling Kylie to hold on to it. I almost feel like yelling. Kylie, just hold it. Make them come up to you. Yep. Sorry, that's not very announcer. I took the I took the mic off to yell that, but I should I should be unbiased on that, but Coach Jeff coming out. Coach Jeff. I don't know And that one there, we should have just stayed back there and forced Minnechaug to come up. That's the father in me as Pellegrino drives one in. She'll be getting herself an 8-m attempt this This time she'll be getting a more favorable hash
063mark on the 8-m. Cuz yeah, she's had a couple from the left side, which obviously difficult as It's a little different spot here for her. Ava Pellegrino winning. She's all right as officials talking to Minnechaug player and it's just taking more time off. Pellegrino goes in up and over. Ball gets stick checked away. Minnechaug comes up with it. The ball comes loose and guess who's there to pick it up? Mac Whitworth. Whitworth with the ball and we'll see we'll see what Minnechaug decides to do again as they kick the ball all the way up to McKechnie over to Marino. And now they're beginning good job. Yeah, now now you'll be able to open up some seams cuz now when you can drive in, Marino turns around and drives in. She keeps going with it. Yeah,
064I'd like to see Marino keep going into the cage with that. Marino goes around the cage, turns around, finds an open Lucy Parsons. Wow. Nice finish by Lucy Parsons and I do believe that's Kylie Marino's third assist of the game. Nice finish by Lucy Parsons to bury that in the back of the net. Good job by Marino going all around and finding the open player. And just like you said, once they started coming out, everything opened right up. Got a perfect pass right in the middle there. That's it. Good job by Kylie to be patient not not try to force anything into that. Spartans up 9 to 3 with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth and final quarter. Taylor and Whitwer on the draw. Minnechaug really really going to need to win a
065couple of these draws to make something happen. I mean once again, when the clock gets down too much, if the Spartans hold on to a lead, you have to start seeing Minnechaug really really doing a lot of different things defensively schemed. As Lee gets the ball over the restraining line. Lee behind the the cage. Met by Avery Morgado. She'll look to do a She goes around, turns around, finds an open shot and gets And I believe I don't know who that was. Good job by Minichog to turn around roll around the back of the cage and get herself a goal. Who is that? Can't see her number. I I don't I I didn't catch it either. >> Yeah, I think it might have been a Lusic. Can't see her hair. It's over I think it's
066Or McConnell. Could be cuz I think I think it might be >> number six. I can't see. She Her hair was covering her. And Mac Whitwer and Taylor back up on the draw. Spartans now all up only only up five. Whitwer and Taylor. Ball goes up and Kylie Marino comes up and away with it. She gets the ball up over the restraining line. Now Minichog switched up a little bit more and now they have Kozub playing defense. Normally she's always up on attack. Kekney with the ball. Let's see how long they can eat that clock. And see now you turn around you start seeing some seams right >> There we go. Yep. >> Cuz see how now they're playing out. >> It's wide open now. Pellegrino with the ball turns around gets knocked away. Now
067Minichog off as Lee with the ball. Can Kylie Marino get in front of her? Kylie Marino slows the play down and Lee with the ball behind the cage looking to set up Minnechaug's offense. This is the end of the game. Every possession this is this close of a game really really makes a difference. Spartans really don't want to force anything. Want to just take the clock on our our side. Ball bounces loose as Goodrow's in there. Byron in there. Byron giving chase. Good job by Gianna playing good defense on Goodrow. Goodrow gets the ball behind Oh, good grab. Behind the net by Lee. Lee with the ball. Lee turning around and Lee finding the open Stackowitz. That shouldn't I don't Mary Devoy ends up getting a yellow card. For Gianna Byron? For I don't know.
068I think I think one of our girls. Also, Mary Mary Devoy. Mary Devoy gets a yellow card. That's a tough one cuz like we saw earlier in the game, she brought a lot of versatility on attack, too. So, they got to play down for what? 2 minutes? >> yeah. 5:30. Not only that, we since it's a yellow card after the foul, I believe Minnechaug will start off with possession of the ball, as well. Yikes. So, that's a So, do they get it at half there? >> Yeah, they get it like as if it's a draw control. So, that's a It once again it's the same you can score can quickly change in this game. >> Yep. This is when the the rest of this game kind of want to get the ball in your sure
069stick handlers and keep every possession as Sergenko gets the ball dislodged by Pellegrino. Pellegrino gets hit with a call. Sergenko with the ball. She gets the ball over to Kozub. And the Spartans will be down a player until what, 5:30? Yep. So important here for the Spartans. Keep everything clean on defense. This is a a big stop right here. >> Yep. Taylor with the ball. Gets the ball over to Kozub. Kozub back up to Lee. Lee looking to find a cutter. Nothing there. Ball's thrown away. Nobody's going to press on it because we're Yep. we're down that player. Ball gets up to Lee. Lee looking to do something. Nothing there. She tries to feather one in. The ball's thrown away. Burns chases it out there, but leaves Minnechaug's Stackwitz to get it. Stackwitz brings it
070up on top. And that should be a 3 3-second violation. 3-second violation on Kaia Moreno. As Great save. >> Good save as >> [cough] >> Who is that? Mack Whitmer takes another one. I don't know if Mack got one in the hand. I don't know if that was on the shot. [snorts] I was I was looking down. I don't know if it was on the follow-through or Looks like Mack got one in the hands. That's not Mack's holding her fingers or wrist. Yeah, but coming out of this you wonder if the Spartans should just hold it back in the I don't know. Yeah, I mean I I definitely think you have to get the ball in some of your sure stick hands. >> Yeah. And let them uh let them find some seams, run out
071the clock. I think they Minnetchaug cut the lead down to four, but there's only 6 minutes left, so they're still going to they're and they're up a man, so they'll be double they'll be double-teaming the ball. So >> All right, if I'm if they're giving you that line, I would just stay back, but Mack Whitmer goes in and out of the Minnetchaug. That's one of the one of the calls I think should happen in future cuz a lot of the girls can go over the restraining line. If you go over the restraining line, you're offsides. If you were to get a green card and be out for a minute, they do that in college. I think that would be better. Cuz it'd force the girls to stop more. Hackney with the ball getting the ball
072over to Whitworth. Minnechaug up a man, so I'm surprised they're >> we're back to full strength, Mary's I think cuz 5:30 5:30. >> Yep. See, good thing. Glad you have you here. So, now they're they're not man-marking Mac anymore. >> good. Which is going to end up leaving a lot of space. >> much space in there. >> Yeah. Now, they're going to come out on Mac. That's when you almost want to see and now Mac has a open space. Mac turns around, pulls out smartly knowing enough that the the goal doesn't make a difference and the clock makes more. That's That's good heads-up by Mac. >> Yep. Gets the ball over to Pellegrino. Pellegrino could just hold on to that. Ooh. Time out red or time out East Long Meadow. Spartans up 9 to 5
073with 4:08 left in the fourth quarter. >> All right, we are back with potentially the last 4 minutes of this Western Mass final game. East Long Meadow has the ball with 4:13 left. Spartans up 9 to 5. What's your game plan, Bo, for the Spartans for the next 4 minutes? I mean, I can always understand that, you know, playing it safe, eating the clock, certainly can understand that, but I also love controlling your own way forward, putting the pressure on them, bringing it right to goal. So, honestly, if they see the seams, if they see openings, take it to goal. So, in other words, if Mac has a one-on-one, take it. >> Take it, yep. >> There we go. Looks like they're setting up with Mac and Sabina doing a little two-man. Mac pulls the
074ball out. Mack still with the ball, man. At some point you're you're if you're Chugg, you're going to have to like Yep. double that up. Mack with the ball. Mack still with the ball, gets the ball up to McKechnie. McKechnie with the ball. McKechnie still with the ball, switches left hand. McKechnie finds nothing, pulls the ball back out. You hear me and Chugg saying, "Go get it." >> Yep. McKechnie still with the ball. McKechnie gets the ball over to Marino. Now it will be Marino's turn to run around. The Spartans with a variety of different options that can just keep going and running for days. And Marino definitely one of those. As Marino just does a full 360. Takes 30 seconds off the clock, finds a seam, nothing there. Finds Lucy Parsons. Lucy Parsons and
075takes a shot and puts one in the back of the net. Well done. Well executed. There you go. That's what you were uh That's what you were asking for, right? You wanted the Spartans to to do that. And Kylie Marino once again finds Lucy Parsons to put the Spartans up 10-5 with 3:04 left in the uh the game. Just that little circle she did relaxes the defense a little bit, opens them up, gives Lucy a perfect little seam in there. Great finish. Lucy with a great catch and nice finish. Spartans doing a good job finding that ball around again. Me, it makes a big difference when the other teams have to play out. Now you can start doing different options. And now when those girls are that, now you have the Julia Lingsworth, the Jane
076Pelletiers, the Lucy Parsons that can finish it right in front of the net. Yep. As we just saw and they just did put the Spartans up 10-5 with 3:04 left in the game. Mack Whitwer and Taylor on the draw. Ball goes up and Kozub comes up with it. Kozub with the ball, getting the ball over the restraining line. They're going to Minnechaug's going to have to work quick as she does a roll, turns around. Good job by Kylie Marino to fill that in. They get the ball up to Sergenko. Sergenko behind the net to Stackwitz. Stackwitz still behind the the net. Kicking the ball back to Kozub. Spartans doing a good job holding them off as Lee goes in there at all. Oh, unfortunate for the Spartans. Look like Mac Whitworth got a got a
077piece of that ball on Lee and the ball went over Julia Gray's head for for the goal. Certainly a little unlucky bounce there, but Yeah, that's it's a tough one. Good one by Minnechaug to take the ball to the the cage to cut the Spartans lead down by four with 2:12 left to go in the fourth quarter. Spartans doing a good job trying to keep the momentum away from from Minnechaug. Don't want to really let them get any momentum cuz they can put up a bunch of goals quick. Spartans and Minnechaug both led the league in uh goals. I think Minnechaug had one more goal than East Longmeadow. This time McKechnie comes up with the ball. She's getting the ball over the restraining line. She's looking to as she's met by Kozik. She gets the
078ball over the restraining line and will set up the East Meadow offense. Gets the ball over to Marino. Now they're choosing to face guard Mac. Marino with the ball. She's going to go around. She can run for days. The draw control so crucial there. It's great for the Spartans to get that. >> Yes. >> Now they have the possession, so last minute 40, we'll see what they can do. Marino still running with the ball. Marino still with the ball. Gets the ball over to Pellegrino. Pellegrino should kick this back out and hit Ooh. >> [crying] >> Get one up in the face. I'd like to see Pellegrino get that back out to Marino. And this is where you wonder if all that time the Spartans had them under pressure in the third, if that's starting
079to play into a little bit of fatigue here for the for Minnechaug. Absolutely. Ball's thrown away. Looks like that should be offsides. Lucky for the Spartans, one of the Minnechaug players was offsides, stepping over the restraining line. McKechnie with the ball. She should See if she how long she can hold on to the ball for. Let's see if they can hold on to the ball for 30 seconds. McKechnie does. She goes around, waiting. Minnechaug I I They got like an all out pressure here. >> know why you're not pre- At this point, this is when you almost got to take your goalie out >> like in hockey. Yep. And you know, you have to give up You have to give up a goal in trying to get back to the the circle. It doesn't matter
080if you lose 10 to 7 or 10 to 6. I mean, you got to get some goals here, but And it looks like the looks like the Spartans are going to hold off as the last 20 seconds are left in the in the game. And the Spartans should come away victorious. Last little push, but Yep. >> just not enough time. And it looks like the East Longmeadow Spartans will hold on to the victory once again for the Spartans 3 years in a row. Looks like they're going to win the Western Mass title. Good job by the start the Spartans to win. And Everett, thank you very much Bo for having a great night. >> Great to be here for the three-peat. No no better place to be. So, glad I got to see it. Glad
081I got to be on the mic. Great job for the girls and you know what, Bo? More than anything important, good luck next year at Tufts. >> Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night, everyone. Will the school representatives from each team head to the field at the conclusion of the game for the award presentation. >> [cheering] >> At the conclusion of the handshake line with each team line up on their respective 45-yard lines. >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> Please line up on your 45-yard lines, please. This is Dwayne Early will present the awards to each team. First, we will honor Minnechaug with the Class A Western Mass Finalist Trophy for the 2026 season. >> [cheering and applause] >> Okay. Sorry, Mr. Early will be here in just a minute. >> First we will honor
082Minnechaug with the Class A Western Mass Finalist trophy for the 2016 season. >> [applause and cheering] >> Next we will honor East Longmeadow with the Class A Western Mass Championship trophy for the 2016 season. >> [cheering] [applause] >> Defense! >> [applause] >> Defense! Defense! >> [cheering] >> Defense! Defense! >> [cheering] >> Defense! Defense! >> [applause] >> Defense! Defense! Hey guys. Tell her I take that personally. Both of both of us are sisters. I know. the other guy. First one all right. All right. I know I got that. Sorry. What the hell?