Bradford's milestone goal a long time coming for Bishop Guertin girls lacrosse

Kate Bradford had the entire offseason to think about one of the biggest moments of her high school lacrosse career.

But when it came down to it, the best thing for Bradford to do was not think about it at all.

It took just 2:49 into the first game of the season for the Bishop Guertin High School senior to find herself in position to score her hundredth career goal, and when the moment came, it was just like many of the 99 before it.

"It was natural," Bradford said. "We have those plays all the time and that was just right there and easy. They feed me well. If I had thought about the goal before I scored it, I probably would have missed. I probably would have dropped the ball. In the (course) of the game, nothing else matters."

After a Londonderry turnover, the Cardinals got the ball in transition and Bradford ended up with it in front of the Lancers' goal.

And just like that all the pressure was off.

"Before the game, I'm normally upbeat and running around the locker room, and I was freaking out," she said. "I don't usually get nervous before going on the field, it's like second nature, but I was nervous. I was stressed and I wanted it over with."

Bradford, who plans to continue play in college at the University of Delaware, wasn't the only one happy to get the goal out of the way.

"It was awesome to be able to get it in the right way, because it was a perfect opportunity," Bishop Guertin coach Kerry D'Ambroise said. "It wasn't anything forced, it just happened. It was cool to have that."

Not long after the Cardinals lost to Pinkerton in last year's championship game, D'Ambroise informed Bradford that she was just one goal shy of reaching a hundred, and that knowledge loomed over her throughout the time in between seasons.

"I found out after we played Pinkerton in the championship that I was one away," she said. "It's a big accomplishment and it meant a lot to me, so I was hyping it up so much, especially knowing since the end of last season. I was happy I scored it this year and it was nice to start the season on a high."

D'Ambroise is hoping that Bishop Guertin will have a few more high points in the season, but will need a small senior class, led by Bradford, to show a young roster the way. The Cardinals have just three seniors, all of whom were on the varsity when they won the Division I championship two years ago and lost it last season.

"I think the leadership, those players have been to the championship game twice," D'Ambroise said. "They've won, they know what it takes, they've been there a second time, and they know what it feels like to lose. They're as hungry as ever and they're showing the younger kids exactly what it means to be a leader."

Learning that lesson is something that will continue to evolve all season long.

"Our juniors are new to varsity, our sophomores are new to varsity, and our freshmen are new to high school lacrosse," Bradford said. "They all work hard. Kerry is an amazing coach. I think we're going to do well this year, we just have to make the connections."