WEBSTER GROVES – Teammates of Erica Smith tried to explain what makes the Nerinx Hall senior one of the best draw-takers in the state.
Sophomore Gretchen Patterson alluded to her wrist strength. Sophomore Kenley Heinen mentioned her reflexes. Markers’ coach Erica Ely pointed to her intelligence.
“I just throw it up there and hope for the best,” Smith said with a smile.
Smith earned a career-high 24 draw controls and Patterson delivered five goals and six assists as Nerinx Hall defeated Ursuline in the second round of the Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association state playoffs Thursday at Nerinx Hall.
Nerinx Hall (12-3), which has produced its most wins since 2011, will travel to No. 1 Eureka (14-1) at 10 a.m. Saturday for a Round of 16 matchup that will feature the top two draw-takers in the area –Kylee Pickens of Eureka and Smith of Nerinx Hall.
Kylee Pickens feature: https://metrosportsstl.com/2024/05/14/girls-lacrosse-postseason-preview-eurekas-pickens-elevates-game-during-record-setting-season/
“It is a little intimidating, but I’m just going to do what I know and leave it all out there,” Smith said.
Smith left Ursuline (9-5) searching for answers on Thursday. The Bears sent three different draw-takers into the circle. They lined up opposite of Smith and then on the same side of Smith. The appearance inside the circle changed, but the person carrying the ball outside the circle did not.
“Erica Smith is incredible at the draw, and we knew that coming into this game,” Ursuline coach Nicole Dempsey said. “We had six different plans and we couldn’t get her.”
After retrieving the airborne ball in the circle, Smith often located Patterson, who carried the ball behind the Ursuline net. Patterson delivered an assist to Heinen to open the scoring 21 seconds into the game, then wrapped around the cage to score one for herself 48 seconds later.
“She’s the quarterback,” Ely said of Patterson. “She controls the pace, she’s able to calm everyone down and the second she gets a step on a (defender), it’s game over.”
Smith intercepted a goalie clearing attempt and scored to end the first quarter, then won three consecutive draws to open the second, helping Nerinx Hall build an 11-5 halftime lead.
“A lot of it is me trying to improvise,” said Smith, who raised her draw control total to 144 this season. “If they have better positioning on me, I have to reset my footing and make sure I have a good angle. It just matters how my stick goes against their stick.”
Heinen helped the Nerinx Hall defense maintain its footing against an Ursuline team determined to power its way to the goal. The Markers held Ursuline without a shot on goal for the first 8:26 of the second quarter and did not allow the Bears to score consecutive goals until the final minute of the third.
“We were aware of who was looking to drive, and we were ready to help, ready for the pick, ready for anything,” Heinen said.
The Markers had to be ready for Ursuline senior Taylor Wuennenberg. Also an outstanding ice hockey goalie, field hockey goalie and golfer, Wuennenberg scored three successive goals in a 2 minute 15 second span to slice the deficit to 16-10 early in the fourth quarter.
But goals by Heinen, Patterson and Smith and four stellar saves by Nerinx senior goalie Taylor Barnett halted the Ursuline comeback attempt and sent the Markers into the Round of 16.
“I loved everything about this performance. I told them this was the first game that every part – our offense, defense, draw team, goalkeeping – everything came together. It was the perfect synchrony. The whole team was locked in and fired up from the beginning,” Ely said.
Wuennenberg led Ursuline with five goals, including the 100th of her career with 21 seconds remaining in the contest. It provided an apt metaphor for the Bears’ strong finish to the season, which saw Ursuline win eight of its final 10 games, with the only two losses coming to Nerinx Hall.
“I thought this was a big year of growth,” Dempsey said.
And for Nerinx Hall, which had no seniors on the roster last year, this season has proved to be exactly what the Markers hoped it would be, with their biggest test coming at No. 1 ranked Eureka on Saturday.
“It feels like it’s been a whole year of prep just for this game,” Heinen said. “It’s the hardest team we’ve ever played and we’re playing the best we ever have.”
Smith added, “Everyone loves a good underdog story.”
Photos from this game can be found at http://benvessa.smugmug.com.