Windham girls lacrosse keeps rolling with win over Hollis Brookline (video)

HOLLIS - The Windham High School girls lacrosse team knew it would be battling a bit of history Saturday along with Hollis Brookline.

In the second half, the Jaguars were able to rewrite some of that history.

Windham broke open a tie game with a 5-1 run and the Jaguars were able to answer every time the Cavaliers tried to get closer down the stretch, beating HB 12-8 in a Division II game.

It was the first win for Windham against HB in almost four years, with the Jaguars last beating the Cavs on May 10, 2017.

"This is a huge win for Windham," Jaguars coach Russ Perkins said. "Historically, we haven’t won a game against Hollis Brookline in four years at the varsity level. This is a big step for us.

"It’s huge because it tests you. In the past, Windham remembers too much of what happens in the past and don’t play for the day. Forget about what has happened in the last four years."

Maria Killian had four goals to lead the Jaguars (8-2) while Cali Behling had three goals and an assist and Chloe Hall and Bella Connelly each had a goal and an assist. Morgan Ross, Cecilia Ponzini and Sophia Ponzini also scored and Avery Hamilton had an assist.

Alex Perkins finished with eight saves for Windham, including a handful in the first half that came on free positions by the Cavs and helped keep the Jaguars close.

"I can’t say enough about Alex," Russ Perkins said. "In eight games, she’s probably got 60 saves. It’s been an unbelievable year for her as a senior. That’s the kind of leadership that you want to see. When it comes from your goalie, who is one of your captains, it sets the tone for the defense. She spun things around for us."

HB (4-1) got four goals and two assists from Alyssa Hill while Brooke Allanch and Abbey Maguszewski had two goals apiece. Hallie Bardani and Libby Rutledge played well in goal for the Cavs, who were playing their first game since April 22.

"They played with heart and that’s all I can ask for," HB coach Jim Maxwell said. "Our school wouldn’t allow us to play over vacation week, so we had 10 days off. Then we had Covid go through the team, so the first day we had all the kids back was (Friday). It’s not an excuse, it’s just we’re out of shape and we haven’t played together."

Maxwell was still encouraged by the things he saw from the Cavs, as they were able to control possession early in the game and keep Windham off the board.

But HB was unable to take advantage of its early opportunities, as Alex Perkins came up with a couple of saves. The Jaguars were eventually able to tip the field in their direction and Behling scored with 15:06 left in the half to put Windham up 1-0.

Hill and Maguszewski answered for HB, and when Hall tied it up, Hill put the Cavs back in front with 6:25 remaining until halftime. But Windham scored twice, getting goals from Connelly and Killian, in the final five minutes of the half to take a 4-3 lead into the break.

HB tied the game again on an Allanch goal just 53 seconds into the half, but the Cavs were assessed a yellow card on the draw and Windham took advantage. The Jaguars scored twice in 58 seconds to go up 6-4, and after HB got one back, Windham tacked on three straight goals to take a 9-5 lead with 12:56 remaining.

"Last game, we had 10 girls score goals," Russ Perkins said of his team's balanced scoring. "It has been wonderful. What’s so tremendous about it is that it’s juniors, sophomores and freshmen doing the scoring for us. Our seniors are all on defense. It’s young, athletic leadership, and our freshmen are as good."