Chatham High’s Girl’s Lacrosse Drubs Park Regional in Second Round of Morris County Tournament

Chatham High School (N.J.) Girl’s lacrosse team used the power of 13 different players who registered goals to help fuel a 16-4 lopsided victory over Park Regional (combined Whippany Park/Hanover Park) in the second round of the Morris County Tournament (MCT) Tuesday at Haas Field.

The tilt saw a number of players getting extra field time, testing their depth, and they made the most of it, head coach Helen McCutcheon-Oliver noted. After a strong showing, she said the team is now prepared to move on to the next phase of the MCT.

“It’s great when we can insert different girls in to play,” a gleeful McCutcheon-Oliver said. “I don’t how many of those scores out of those 16 goals were different players, but it’s great when that happens. We were able to spread the wealth a little bit and have fun while we were doing it. We’re just excited for the next round.”

With senior star midfielder Grace Hallahan opening up the scoring for the Cougars, they showed just how dominate they can be, running out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter. Chatham added four more goals in the second period to push their advantage to a commanding 13-0 at the break.

The Cougars held Park Regional scoreless until the 3:19 mark of the third quarter, when it broke through for its first goal of the affair.

But sophomore attacker Ellie Russo responded with a tally of her own to give Chatham a 14-1 advantage with 7:06 left in the third period.

With the Cougars playing keep away, Park Regional managed to score three more markers in the fourth quarter. But they were all in vain, as Chatham won big time to advance to quarterfinals of the MCT.

Hallahan, a University of Richmond commit, tallied three markers and an assist for four points, while junior midfielder Annie Irish found the back of the net twice.

Additionally, seniors Claire Engelkraut, Alexa Grom, Ashlyn Carpenter, Ava Cantillion, and Ava Stanco all scored, while juniors Peyton Furst, Leah Tapper, Kylie Ferrero, and Nicolette Grossman chipped in with goals of their own.

Sophomore Maggie Koehler added two helpers.

The Cougars host Mount Olive Saturday in the MCT quarterfinals at a yet to be determined time.

— Jerry Del Priore