Girls Lacrosse: Loyola hands New Trier first loss of season

Updated: April 27, 2012 9:40PM

Meredith Abrahamson scored one goal Friday, but the Loyola senior might have been the most important player on the field for the Ramblers in their 11-10 win over rival New Trier in Northfield.

The Marquette-bound Abrahamson helped the three-time defending state champions control the ball early at the draw, and she won the biggest one with 66 seconds to play after the Trevians scored to make it a one-goal game.

Abrahamson beat out Kelsey Murray for the ball and was able to pass it to Anna Schueler. The Ramblers then ran out the clock for the victory and dealt New Trier its first loss of the season.

“As much as I want to credit myself, my teammates are right there with me,” Abrahamson said. “We have different calls on the draw, and we made the right call at the end.”

Kelsey Gallagher scored all five of her goals in the first half during a seven-minute stretch that led Loyola (14-3) to a 6-2 advantage. The Ramblers went into the half ahead 8-3.

“We had a 10- or 15-minute lapse in the first half when Loyola was able to take advantage of possessions and get that lead,” New Trier coach Pete Collins said. “That’s a good team.

“It’s a different game when you are down five.”

Murray brought the Trevians (14-1) back into the game with two goals early in the second half. The Stanford recruit and state’s leading scorer finished with a game-high seven goals.

The junior attacker scored with 1:33 to go and then assisted on Claire McClain’s goal 27 seconds later to leave the score 11-10.

“That five-goal lead wasn’t enough,” said Gallagher, who will play at Ohio State. “We knew we couldn’t be complacent. We had to keep possession and keep scoring.

“This was a game we definitely did not want to lose. It’s always a battle, and it’s such a pay off when we come out on top.”

The two powerhouses could meet each other again next month when the state tournament starts. Unlike last season, the playoffs will be seeded, with Loyola expected to earn the No. 1 position.

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