First-half spurt helps Kennett roll past Oxford

KENNETT SQUARE >> Two young teams trying to find their way in this young girls lacrosse season faced off Tuesday at Kennett’s Legacy Fields. The Blue Demons were tied with Oxford early in the first half, before scoring 18 of the next 21 goals to cruise to a 20-5 Ches-Mont League American Division contest.

Despite the win, Kennett coach Lisa Daugherty was not totally happy with team’s performance.

“So-so happy,” she said. “I really wanted them to have a faster speed of play. I also wanted them to settle offensively and get a nice offensive rhythm going. I feel we were interrupted by some feisty little defensive players from Oxford. Overall, I would rate it as a mediocre game for Kennett. I felt at times, our stick work was poor, our passing was poor, our ground balls were poor, our hustle was poor. So, that’s why I give it maybe a C+ for the day.”

Oxford junior Paige Klingensmith scored a pair of goals to offset tallies by Jordyn MacMillan and Makayla Kelly to knot the game up at 2-2 and force Daugherty into calling a time out. Instead of lighting into her team, she used the let the team figure it out method.

“I told them to meet as a group and figure out what they’re not doing and what they need to do,” Daugherty said. “The two coaches stepped away and let the team leaders take over.”

“Our first two minutes we came out less energetic than we should have,” added Kelly. “Once that time out hit, we got or heads together and pulled it together. We work really well as a unit and once we started doing that, I feel it reflected in the scoreboard.”

The Blue Demons (1-1, 3-2) then proceeded to rip off 10 of the next 11 goals to take a 12-3 lead at halftime.

The second half was a case of the beat going on, the Hornets were unable to cut into the deficit as Kennett scored the first three after the break for a 15-3 lead.

Oxford coach Chrissy Reimold is battling youth and inexperience as she tries to build a contending team.

“We have a very new team this year,” Reimold said. “We held strong for the first couple of minutes. They did what they were supposed to do. Then we don’t have the depth. That’s where we fall short.
“The girls are doing what they can. They are giving it their in a league that have very strong players.”