With its fourth straight NYSPHSAA title, Victor girls lacrosse has entered a new echelon of excellence. There have only been four instances in girls lacrosse state history that a team has won four consecutive crowns, and the Blue Devils are the latest example.
Each season takes on its own personality. Previous teams in Victor’s four-year run might’ve been more dominant. Concerning this year’s group, there might be none better at handling the inevitable obstacles on the championship path.
Consider that Victor lost two of its last three games in the regular season and fell behind during multiple section and state tournament games. Yet there’s an aura of inevitability with the Victor program. That was on display in Saturday’s 12-9 win over Garden City-VIII, lifting the Blue Devils to their fourth straight Class B championship.
“We don’t care who scores, we don’t care who assists, we don’t care who causes turnovers or gets ground balls,” Victor coach Jen Haggerty said. “Everybody works 110% for 48 minutes and we don’t give up. They were so proud of the fact that they did exactly what they were going to. They trust the process and put the time in every single day.”
Garden City was no ordinary foe. The Trojans entered the game as New York state’s top-ranked team in Class B, and in terms of state titles are the winningest program in NYSPHSAA girls lacrosse history with 15 trophies.
Many of those feel like ancient history now, though, while the present belongs to the Blue Devils.
While the Blue Devils lose seven impactful seniors, including four (Julia Bruno, Brin Gotham, Morgan Livingston, Maia Pronti) who were in the title team in 2022, it would be a shock to no one if Victor is competing for another title next spring.
“Well, we’re definitely shooting for No. 5 next year,” Haggerty said. “Our seniors last year and this year leave behind such a legacy. We have such a tradition. These kids really want to do what their predecessors have done, and that’s work as hard as they can.”
Victor overcomes early deficit
For a time, it looked as though Victor’s reign would end. The Blue Devils were plagued by three yellow cards in the first half and played a player down for about six minutes. Garden City scored twice during that stretch and led by a goal at halftime.
Frustration might unravel a lesser team. That’s not Victor. The Blue Devils regrouped at halftime and viewed their 5-4 deficit as a positive.
“We felt we were the better team. We played a man down for six minutes and were still right there with them,” Haggerty said. “No more swinging our sticks. We had to defend with our feet and take care of the ball and put it in the net. There was no reason we couldn’t win.”
Victor tied the score at 5-all on McKenna Anderson’s shot three minutes into the second half. The Blue Devils trailed only once more, and briefly, but an eight-goal barrage in the second half lifted them to another win.
Livingston was the offensive hero, scoring four times in the final to cap a seven-goal, four-assist weekend.
While appreciative of Livingston’s offensive contributions, Haggerty was equally as impressed with the leadership component. Livingston, one of the captains, was vocal during every huddle, as each possession took on greater importance.
“She said how this was the last time we’d all be on the field together. She said we cannot give up and have to give everything we have,” Haggerty said. “She gave every ounce of energy she had into that game. It was amazing to see and we’re so proud of her. It all came down to her grit and desire to win that game for the team.”
Special moment for coach Haggerty
Due to the nature of scheduling, Haggerty has been on site for many of the Penfield girls lacrosse team’s games over the last few weeks, dating back to the Section V championships through Saturday’s state final. And while her primary focus was the challenges ahead for her own team, Haggerty tried to keep a keen eye on Class A contender Penfield, as her daughter Maddy Fichera is on the Patriots’ coaching staff.
While interactions were often brief, Haggerty was able to greet her daughter after most games, and both teams continued to win.
“I really had to compartmentalize. (After the Section V finals) I really wanted to go over and hug Maddy and tell her congratulations, but I also have a whole team of kids depending on me for our pregame routines and warmups,” Haggerty said.
For Saturday’s state finals, teams (and coaches) typically aren’t allowed on the field more than 45 minutes before their scheduled start time. But, because of the familial connection, Haggerty was able to sneak on the field and share an embrace with Fichera after Penfield’s state title win.
“She ran to me and was like convulsing and crying, so I started to cry behind my sunglasses,” Haggerty said. “And then I walked back to my team and my assistant coach said, ‘OK, get it together mama.’ It was so emotional and I was so proud. But I also said, now we have to walk out of here with a championship.”
About two hours later, Victor had something to celebrate too.
By the numbers
10 — NYSPHSAA girls lacrosse titles for Section V, following wins by Victor and Penfield. The Blue Devils are the only local team with multiple championships.
14.6 — Victor’s goals per game average in six postseason contests.
1 — Amount of teams to win five straight NYSPHSAA girls lacrosse titles, which Victor will aim for next spring. The only team to do so is Garden City, which won seven straight from 2006 to 2012.
Here’s how the game played out:
Victor vs Garden City: Game start
Garden City’s Kathryn Monaco takes the opening draw control, and the Class B final is underway.
Victor 1, Garden City 1: 5 minutes left in the 1st quarter
Allie Pisano opened the scoring three minutes in, but Garden City’s Kimberly Colucci answered a minute later. Trojans have won all three draws so far.
Victor 3, Garden City 3: End of the 1st quarter
Victor led by two goals thanks to scores from McKenna Anderson and Camryn Adrid, but Garden City answered with two goals in the final minute of the quarter. Blue Devils were carded twice in the final two minutes of the quarter, and the Trojans took advantage.
Garden City 4, Victor 3: 7:37 left in the 2nd quarter
Victor is trailing for the first time today. Trojans’ Kimberly Colucci scored on a shot from the 8-meter, the first free position chance of the game.
Garden City 5, Victor 4: Halftime
Morgan Livingston scores with 1:27 left in the half, after Victor allowed four straight goals to fall behind 5-3. Livingston’s goal, a run from the 8-meter, came while the Blue Devils were down a player.
Victor 6, Garden City 6: 6:30 left in the 3rd quarter
The Blue Devils tie the score with goals from McKenna Anderson and Julia Bruno.
Victor 8, Garden City 7: End of the 3rd quarter
Teams traded goals in the third quarter. Morgan Livingston’s tally with 2:22 left in the third stands as the go-ahead score for now. Couple big saves from Garden City goalie Kate Connolly on Victor’s Maia Pronti to keep it a one-goal game.
Victor 10, Garden City 9: 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter
Maia Pronti scored her second of the game on a twirling shot outside the crease, to put the Blue Devils back in front.
Victor 12, Garden City 9: Final
The four-peat is complete. Victor is again NYSPHSAA champions.
This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Four-peat complete: Victor beats Garden City for another girls lacrosse title
Reporting by Justin Ritzel, Canandaigua Daily Messenger / MPNnow
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
