Westerly girls lacrosse passes latest test to remain unbeaten

CUMBERLAND – Monday night offered a girls lacrosse test as expected, and Westerly passed it with flying colors.

The Bulldogs remained unbeaten atop Division II by building an early lead and tightening up when necessary in the second half. Cumberland couldn’t find a way back against the team currently leading the Interscholastic League tournament standings.

Casey Macera’s fourth goal with 3:23 to play all but sealed it, as Westerly left for the long ride home from Tucker Field with a 15-11 victory on April 27.

Casey Macera scored four goals for Westerly against Cumberland on Monday afternoon.

Ella Seltzer and Gianna Falcone added hat tricks in a balanced attack, as the Bulldogs prevailed in their third real challenge of the year. They beat Prout by five goals and Waterford (Conn.) by four – Westerly’s other six matches entering this one were decided by an average margin of 12.8 goals.

“We’ve had more of an easier season so far,” Macera said. “Knowing that they’re a great team and we would test ourselves was really exciting.”

Falcone’s goal a minute into the second quarter gave the Bulldogs their largest lead at 9-2, and the Clippers could only manage to rally within three on a trio of different occasions. The last of those came deep in the fourth quarter, with Lucy Biggs putting away her seventh goal of the night to make it 14-11. Westerly worked the clock from there and Macera bounced a shot home in front to just about settle it.

“The group is amazing,” Macera said. “We click so well. We’re all athletes, so that’s really cool having that connection already.”

Macera and Hadley Henderson traded goals inside the opening 4:11 before the Bulldogs raced away. Falcone hit Macy Antoch on the right side for a quick shot that made it 2-1, and Westerly had the lead for good with 6:21 left in the opening quarter. Seltzer, Phoebe Brennan and Falcone all found the net as the Bulldogs stretched it to a four-goal advantage.

“It’s just important for us to stay locked in the whole ride,” Falcone said. “It’s important for us to come out and to come out hot – that's how we like to play.”