FENTON – When all-state attacker Bailey Boulay suffered a season-ending knee injury during Eureka’s second game, questions arose as to what effect it would have on the two-time defending state finalists.
Two days later, the Wildcats scored only seven goals and lost their first game of the season. The following game, they were shut out in the first quarter.
“The loss of Bailey was huge. We were shaken,” senior captain Kylee Pickens said. “It’s been an adjustment, and we’ve had to face adversity, but we’ve worked hard to put the pieces together.”
Pickens secured 12 draws, Brooke Samuelson scored six goals, and Eureka placed the final piece into its impressive regular-season puzzle with a 15-8 victory over Summit on Tuesday to earn the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association state tournament.
Eureka (13-1), which received two goals from Pickens, senior Emily Henderson and junior Ruby Copeland, increased its winning streak to 11 games – the longest in program history. The Wildcats have scored at least 12 goals in every game during the streak.
“Our team is special,” said Pickens, who notched the 300th draw control of her career Tuesday. “We work so well together on the field, and off the field we all get along so well. Our team chemistry leads us to having these good games.”
Summit (9-5) shook up Eureka’s winning formula in the first quarter by muddying the draw circle and preventing Pickens from escaping with the ball at full speed. On defense, the Falcons blitzed ball-carriers with double-teams and played zone behind it.
Goals by freshman Emery Gregston and seniors Maria Anderson and Maddie Gregston propelled Summit to a 3-1 lead after one quarter.
“We had a plan and we executed it,” Summit coach David Gibson said. “(Pickens) is the best draw-taker in the state, and I was Incredibly proud of our effort from the draw into the defense.”
But the tide turned when Summit received a two-minute penalty for a high check. The player-advantage situation allowed Eureka to slow down its offense, inspect openings in the defense and determine the best way to attack.
Pickens deposited a power-play goal, then spotted sophomore Amelia Craig on the doorstep to tie the game. When junior Katie Criswell found a cutting Copeland, the Wildcats reclaimed the lead 4-3 midway through the second quarter.
“Summit’s defensive intensity is impressive. They really challenged us,” Eureka coach Melissa Menchella said. “It took us awhile to figure out how to handle their pressure and generate a plan of attack, but once we were on the same page and moving together, we were able to find the open option.”
And the open option was often Samuelson, who scored on a free position shot with 1:01 remaining in the half and again off a feed from Pickens 41 seconds later. When Henderson converted a Pickens feed with seven seconds remaining, Eureka took a 7-4 lead and a truckload of momentum into halftime.
The Wildcats piggybacked onto their first half surge by scoring the first five goals of the second half, including two more by Samuelson. In all, Eureka recorded assists on 11 of 15 goals.
“We were just finding the open space,” Samuelson said. “We knew that one of our girls would be open with the zone defense they were playing.”
Three of Samuelson’s goals were assisted by Copeland, as the two displayed an uncanny ability to locate the other in traffic.
“We’re really good on the timing of things,” Copeland said. “Whenever I drive and they double, I know even if I give her a bad pass, she’s going to get it somehow.”
And while Eureka’s offense found its rhythm, its defense forced Summit into discordance.
With senior defender Claire Rickles directing traffic, the Wildcats clogged paths to the goal, forced ball-carriers to retreat into double-teams and held Summit to two goals during the middle two quarters.
“My job is kind of crazy, but it takes a team,” Rickles said. “Every time we change something, it takes everyone participating to make it work and everyone stepped up.”
Summit, the state champion in 2019 and a state semifinalist in 2022, continued to battle. The Falcons won draws, found shooting lanes and scored three consecutive goals to close the deficit to 12-7 midway through the fourth quarter.
Senior Maddie Gregston led the charge with a four-goal performance.
“We saw the top team in the state, we were competitive and we fought back. I’m really proud of the girls,” Gibson said.
And just like last season, Eureka will be the top team occupying the No. 1 line on the playoff bracket heading into the postseason – with some additional incentive.
“(The No. 1 seed) means a lot for us, especially losing Bailey. We’ve been playing for her,” Samuelson said.
She added, “We’ve worked really hard the entire season and we’re ready for playoffs.”
Playing for Bailey: Eureka players gather around Bailey Boulay (seated, center) during halftime of a a girls lacrosse game against Summit on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton, MO. | Photo by Ben Vessa