Lyford's timely saves helped Winnacunnet girls lacrosse survive against Goffstown in D2 semis (video)

MANCHESTER - The Winnacunnet High School girls lacrosse team didn't do itself any favors during Saturday's Division II semifinal against Goffstown.

The Warriors picked up three yellow cards in the first half, then added a fourth midway through the third quarter, meaning they'd be down a player for the remaining 18-plus minutes of the game.

In all, Winnacunnet played more than 24 minutes - half the game - with only 11 players on the field.

Despite that, the No. 2 Warriors found a way to get an 11-6 win over the No. 3 Grizzlies at Manchester Memorial High School, and return to the D2 championship game for the third year in a row.

“We got frustrated and it showed,” Winnacunnet coach Glenn McKenzie said. “Two of those yellow cards were for conduct and you can’t do that. That was our own fault. Fortunately, they dug deep and were able to get the job done.”

The way Winnacunnet (17-3) was able to do it started with goalie Benten Lyford.

The junior only had nine saves on the day, but almost all of them came in moments the Warriors absolutely needed them, including after a couple of the yellow cards. And when Winnacunnet went down a player for good, Lyford tried to step up even more and not only be a vocal leader on defense but become another field player when neccessary.

“I’m definitely a lot louder because I’m a bit more scared, but in a good way,” she said of being down a player. “I definitely tell them what to do a lot more and just make sure my head is completely on a swivel more than usual, so I can see who is open. I need to make sure everyone’s in the right spot.”

And then Lyford still has to make the saves when needed, something that comes naturally to her at this point.

“I’ve been a goalie for so long, it’s kind of just become second nature to me,” she said. “Instead of worrying about what could happen or if I don’t make the save, I just try not to think about that at all. I just think about nothing.”

Lyford had to do that right after the Warriors' first card, in the final minute of the first quarter. Goffstown (10-6) had just scored to take a 2-1 lead and the Grizzlies were looking for more, but she was able to handle a shot by Trinity Lunn just before the quarter expired.

Then, after making a save with about five mintues left in the second quarter, Lyford's clear attempt was tipped by Goffstown's Maeve Hammond and went right to her teammate, Sydney Lavoie, who quickly passed back to Hammond, who was still just outside the crease.

Lyford stopped Hammond in close, but as they went for the groundball, she was called for a push on Hammond, giving her an open net for a free position. Hammond scored to give Goffstown a 3-2 lead and Winnacunnet drew another card after the goal.

The Warriors took a timeout, but the Grizzlies still had possession and were again with an advantage. Goffstown got another look from just outside the crease, but again Lyford came up with the stop, this time on Stella Enman.

Ari Rizzo (four goals) and McKinley Fowler (three goals, one assist) scored back-to-back goals to give Winnacunnet its first lead, 4-3, with 1:38 left in the half, but the Warriors were given their third card with under a minute remaining.

Lyford made the intial stop on a free position by Lunn, but Goffstown got the groundball and Lavoie scored to tie the game at 4 going into the half.

Despite the late goal, McKenzie realized things could have been a lot worse for the Warriors.

“That’s the difference,” the coach said of Lyford’s play in the second quarter. “She’s at like 104 saves for the season and we play a lot of teams that don’t get a lot of shots. That’s really indicative of how well she’s playing.”

With Winnacunnet leading 7-5 going into the fourth quarter, Goffstown won the opening draw but the Warriors struck first.

Lyford stopped a shot by Lavoie and the groundball was picked up by Reese Gandt, who ran it to midfield before passing to Emily Arlington. The sophomore carried the ball down to the 12-meter arc, where she pass it off to Rizzo to the left of the goal, who scored to make it an 8-5 game just 55 seconds into the fourth.

“The best thing ever,” Lyford said of the transition goal. “As much as it’s great making a save, I love when I can start it and they all just finish it for me. It’s amazing.”

Goffstown answered less than a minute later to make it 8-6, but after the Grizzlies won the draw, Lyford another free position, this time by Paige Winters.

Winnacunnet was able to tack on a few more goals and Goffstown wouldn't score over the final 10 minutes as the Warriors secured the win.

“The determination definitely drove us to playing a lot better, especially on the defensive end,” Lyford said. “We just needed to step it up a lot and I think we realized that.”

The Warriors will face No. 5 Hanover in the D2 title game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter, where they'll be looking to make it back-to-back titles.