Walden, McNeil lead Falcons to win over Dorman

The Nation Ford Falcons girls’ lacrosse team was led in a rout of the Dorman Cavaliers 16-3 with the help of five goals from senior Alexis Walden and four goals from junior Samantha McNeil. Senior Rachel Denny picked up a hat trick as well.

“We are getting better and better,” said Nation Ford head coach Tom McNeil. “They are a team that is very committed and focused this year and that is a good thing.”

Nation Ford improved to 3-1 on the season. Their other two wins were also blowouts – 17-0 over Blythewood and 21-4 over Clover during the first week of the season.

Dorman opened the scoring in the first 65 seconds to take a 1-0 lead. It took a while, but Nation Ford finally came back to tie the game about five minutes later as McNeil scored the Falcons’ first goal. The second goal for Nation Ford didn’t take as long as junior Tori Bobrowski came back just 11 seconds later to give the Falcons the lead.

Nation Ford won the face off and threatened for several minutes, but couldn’t get off a clear shot. A turnover led to a Cavaliers possession, but they turned it over just as quickly.

The Falcons extended their lead about five minutes after their second goal with one from Denny. Dorman came back to close the gap 30 seconds later to make it 3-2. However, the game didn’t stay that close for long as Nation Ford won the face off and freshman Jacqueline Harris went straight for the goal, scoring in about six seconds.

Nation Ford kept the pressure on Dorman and despite switching possession often, the Falcons’ defense was able to keep the Cavaliers at bay. Walden gave Nation Ford another goal with about 8:30 left in the first half.

Harris got her second goal of the game with about four minutes left in the first half for the Falcons. Denny also got her second goal of the first half with about 81 seconds left as Nation Ford went up 7-2 before Walden added her second goal for good measure just 40 seconds later. The Falcons scored five straight goals before the half.

Nation Ford started the second half where it left off by controlling possession and moving the ball well. McNeil scored her second goal of the game about four minutes into the second half. Then, 30 seconds later, after winning the face off, Denny got the hat trick with her third goal of the game.

Dorman finally cracked the scoreboard in the second half, ending about a 20 minute dry spell after winning the face off. Walden soon collected her third goal of the game to put the score at 11-3 in favor of the Falcons.

The Falcons kept the rout going as sophomore Maddy Cost scored a goal about 90 seconds later. Walden extended the lead even more with her fourth goal of the game giving the Falcons a running clock. The Falcons finished the game with four more unanswered goals to complete the rout.

Earlier in the week, Nation Ford lost a tough game 18-9 against Charlotte Catholic. Coming up for the Falcons are games at Christ Church and against Wando this week.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Walden, McNeil lead Falcons to win over Dorman."