EUREKA – During the preseason, a student reporter asked Eureka coach Melissa Menchella to evaluate her girls lacrosse team.
With several key players lost to graduation and with juniors Bailey Boulay and Kylee Pickens immersed in a state semifinal run with the Eureka girls basketball team, Menchella was unsure what the team would look like when the season began.
“There was so much unknown. I had no perspective. I think I’m quoted as saying that maybe we could reach the Elite Eight,” Menchella said.
It is time for a reassessment.
Boulay accumulated 10 points, Pickens controlled the draw circle and Eureka put together its second impressive victory in three days with a 16-5 victory over previously unbeaten Cor Jesu on Thursday.
Eureka (4-0), the state runner-up last season, defeated defending state champion MICDS by 11 goals on Tuesday.
“We knew this was a big week to prove ourselves,” Boulay said. “Everyone was ready to work at practice, really focused, staying extra-long if we had to. We put everything into this week.”
The Eureka offense put its trust in Boulay, who tallied four goals and six assists. After converting a free position shot to open the scoring, Boulay became the go-between of a tic-tac-toe goal started by junior Lucy Knerr and finished by senior Bella Short.
Boulay continued to deliver pinpoint passes, spotting sophomore Ruby Copeland in transition, feeding senior Kaylee Gross after crisscrossing with her at the top of the formation and delivering a strike to Short from behind the net to propel Eureka to an early first-half lead.
Boulay, who was credited with 17 assists in 20 games last season, notched her 13th assist in just her fourth game of the season on Thursday.
“My mindset never changed. I’ve always had my head up, looking for that extra pass,” Boulay said. “We share the ball so fast, and I just happen to be that one more pass to get the goal.”
Fast is the operative word for the Eureka approach. Pickens, Gross and Knerr controlled the draw circle, scooped ground balls, patrolled the midfield, forced turnovers, and quickly converted defense to offense.
“We had big shoes to fill in the midfield and I think we’re doing a really good job,” Pickens said. “We practice a lot with our draw team, getting the draw control and running right out of the cage and that’s where the speed comes in.”
Cor Jesu (3-1) tied the game at 3 after freshman Cate Figge scored her second of three goals for the Chargers, but Gross quickly turned the momentum in Eureka’s favor.
Normally a defensive-minded player, Gross showed off her offensive capabilities. After picking a corner and depositing a feed from Boulay, Gross made a smooth spin move between defenders, scored and jumpstarted a five-goal streak for the Wildcats.
“Defense is what I was more suited for. I naturally picked it up, but over the winter, I focused on my stick skills and shooting placement. I just wanted to be able to contribute on all parts of the field,” said Gross, who scored three goals and added an assist.
Short also had three goals and an assist for the Wildcats.
“They are all a threat – defensive, middie, attack,” Menchella said. “Individually, they all do their job so well, and it comes together as a big team win.”
Cor Jesu returned five of its top six scorers from last season, but when the talented Chargers launched a shot at the Eureka net, it usually found the equipment of senior Macey Rickles.
Rickles made five second half saves, including rapid succession stops off point-blank shots from junior Jordan Sadler and senior Anna Loeffelman. Rickles almost pitched a second-half shutout, but Figge scored right before the final horn sounded.
“I give all the credit to my defense. They are always helping me and doing everything to help each other,” Rickles said.
In addition to the hat trick by Figge, Cor Jesu received goals from juniors Jordan Sadler and Makenzie VanBree and a strong goaltending performance from sophomore Lauren Hegedus in the second half.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game. We knew Eureka was super-athletic. It was a game where we had to stop their fast break and we just couldn’t do that,” Cor Jesu coach Andrew Shipp said. “Hopefully, we see them again and we’ve got that figured out.”
Eureka, which has already avenged two of its three losses from its state runner-up season, is trying to take the necessary steps to climb one more rung on the ladder this year.
“We hated that ending. We wanted more, Boulay said. “We have this drive to do more, be more, and we’re eager to win.”
