The wind whipped around the field as the Lady Wolves gave Rochester United a fight before going into half-time.
The girls varsity lacrosse team rallied together scoring three goals within the last three minutes of the first half. They tied the score at five.
They came back to fight again, but lost on Saturday, 10-8.
‘It was a tough one,? said Coach Renee Turner. ‘They were better and should have won. It happens and you have to move on.?
Rochester United scored their first goal right from the beginning. Sophomore Stephanie Dellinger kept their celebration short-lived.
She grabbed possession of the ball at the face-off and ran down the middle of the field. She kept going when no Rochester defenders stepped forward to stop her.
She took her shot on the net and scored, 58 seconds into the game and added another three minutes later.
Rochester United scored four more before Clarkston put more in the net.
Dellinger and Lauren Sharkey narrowed their opponents lead by one.
Alicia Piper added one more with 57.4 left in the first half sending both teams into overtime tied at five.
‘I was proud of them for not giving up,? said Turner. ‘They showed so much heart. They were behind and they kept neck and neck.?
Dellinger added two more goals and Sharkey scored one more in the final half.
The girls prepared for the windy and rainy day by practicing in worse conditions on Friday.
‘I don’t think any other teams practiced on Friday and we did it on purpose because we have to play in those conditions,? said Turner. ‘We had an advantage and that was our attitude going in.?
Turner was proud the girls meeting one of their season goals and playing as a team. She wasn’t the only one – referee Pat Hayes complimented the team on their performance and how far they have come.
‘They are thinking, strategizing and playing as a unit,? said Turner.
It will help as they go into this week’s game when they play Lake Orion, Flushing and Swartz Creek.
‘The week looks very promising,? said Turner. ‘We are very excited. Flushing can be really tough. There are some teams that are a lot more physical than others. Once the players get to a certain point with their skills the physicality goes into the shadow because they can outpass, out cradle and outmanuever – that’s the goal.?
The Lady Wolves host Lake Orion on Wednesday, JV begins at 5:45 p.m., varsity follows.
‘It’s going to be a good game and they love playing their on their field. It can work for or against us,? said Turner.
Then, they travel to Flushing on Thursday and are back in Clarkston for the annual Game for a Cure event on Saturday.
They play Swartz Creek, who they beat on May 5, 13-12.
Varsity plays at 1:30 p.m., JV follows.