CREVE COEUR – The playbook of the Eureka girls lacrosse team reads like a short novel. It consists of 37 offensive sets and is studied thoroughly in the locker room by Wildcats’ junior Amelia Craig before every game.
But even Craig had to jog her memory to recall the play Eureka coach Melissa Menchella dialed up to begin sudden-victory overtime.
“We hardly ever run that play, but I said, ‘Do you remember this one? Let’s try it,’” Menchella said.
Senior Katie Criswell scored the game-winning goal on a feed from Ruby Copeland 35 seconds into overtime, as Eureka rallied from a four-goal, fourth quarter deficit to defeat John Burroughs 8-7 Tuesday in battle of the past two state champions.
Eureka (3-1), the defending Missouri state champion, defeated John Burroughs on the Bombers’ home field for the first time in program history.
“I’m really proud of them,” Menchella said. “They’re a younger group that had to step up and replace strong, confident seniors from last year. I’m proud of how they’ve handled the pressure, not only on the field, but also off the field of being defending state champs. They’ve risen to the occasion.”
Powered by a hat trick by junior Jane Dunaway, John Burroughs took a 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter before Eureka stormed back. A goal by junior Alyssa Olivio provided the spark, and Criswell followed two minutes later with a free position shot.
Eureka sophomore Addy Hays controlled the following draw, and in eight seconds, Criswell sliced the deficit to 7-6.
“It was all about getting the draws,” senior Ruby Copeland said. “I knew once we got possession, we’d be able to handle it and figure something out.”
Hays ensnared the following draw, Copeland set up in the center of the John Burroughs’ defense and senior Maura Silvernail delivered a perfect feed, as Eureka came all the way back to tie the game at 7 with 6:20 remaining.
“We had a lot of momentum going and that helped us a lot,” said Copeland, who scored three goals.
A Kate Logsdon interception with two minutes remaining gave John Burroughs the ball with a chance to hold for the final shot, but the Eureka defense kept the Bombers from getting a quality look at the goal in the closing seconds.
During the five minute intermission, Hays thought about the importance of winning the draw that began sudden-victory overtime.
“I was very relaxed. I just said, ‘Addy, it’s just like every other draw, don’t think about it too much. Just do the exact same thing and it’s yours,” Hays said.
While Hays focused on her role, the Eureka offense jogged their collective memories to recall a seldom-used play in which players deviate from their normal responsibilities, including Criswell and Copeland.
“It was odd because normally I’m the one at the crease feeding it,” Criswell said. “It’s supposed to be me passing to Ruby instead of Ruby passing to me.”
Hays won the draw and passed to Copeland, who carried the ball to the side of the crease, invited a John Burroughs’ double team and then whipped a pass to Criswell in front of the net for the game-winning goal.
“When I had the ball at crease and they doubled, I knew that somebody was going to be open,” Copeland said. “I wasn’t forcing any passes. I knew that eventually somebody was going to pop up and be open. It just happened to be Katie.”
The ability to not only survive, but exploit the John Burroughs’ double-teams was a key in the Eureka victory. Two years earlier, in the 2023 state championship game held on the same field, the Bombers’ double-teams forced Eureka into retreat mode, and helped John Burroughs capture the state title.
“The first week of practice we worked on how to run out of a double team,” Menchella said. “I saw John Burroughs early on our schedule and my goal was to prepare them for this game. In the past, their doubles have gotten us, and I think we stayed pretty composed and handled their pressure pretty well.”
Eureka controlled possession for the first seven minutes of the game and took a 2-0 lead before John Burroughs roared back. A catch-and-shoot from Dunaway, a circling maneuver from junior Reese Rafferty and goals from junior Katy Chapman and senior Charlie Desai gave the Bombers a 7-3 lead after three quarters.
The score could have been more lopsided if not for stellar goalkeeping from Eureka’s Ainsley Seitz. The junior netminder made four outstanding saves in the third quarter, including two on free position shots to keep the Wildcats within striking distance.
“I focused on leading with my hands because that’s where most of my momentum comes from and that helped me have the success I had today,” Seitz said. “I trust the girls on this team, and I knew they would keep their heads up and push through.”
And pushing through until the final whistle has become a signature of a Eureka program that has appeared in the last three state championship games.
“One of our mottos has been ‘refuse to lose.’ If we’re down, we’re not going to just move on from it, we’re going to keep pushing,” Copeland said.
She added, “We’ve definitely learned from the alumni. They’ve built this program to where it is today. To win on John Burroughs’ field for the first time is a big moment for us. I hope it makes them proud.”
Photo gallery from this game: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Girls-Lacrosse-2023-24/Girls-Lacrosse-2025/Eureka-at-John-Burroughs-4-1-25
Photo galleries from previous seasons at: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Girls-Lacrosse-2023-24