Green pulls away in fourth quarter to defeat Buckeye 11-0 in girls lacrosse

Green broke open a close match in the fourth quarter Monday night, pulling away from Buckeye for an 11-0 win at Green High School after the Bucks stayed within striking distance through the first three quarters.

Buckeye opened the game with a strong defensive effort and kept Green from gaining much separation in the first half. The Bucks were evenly matched for long stretches, but struggled in the draw circle, limiting their chances to control possession and build consistent offensive pressure. Even so, Buckeye's defense communicated well, covered for one another and forced Green into difficult looks.

Leah Droes anchored that effort in goal, finishing with seven saves while allowing only five goals through the first three quarters. Her instincts and reactions, shaped by her soccer background, helped Buckeye withstand Green's fast-break chances. Molly Danilovic played a key role in front of her by getting to the right spots to slow transition opportunities, while Andreea Ghise added support on defense and helped force tough shots. Mya Galdun also turned in a strong all-around effort, helping slow Green's midfield attack and buying time for the defense to get organized.

Buckeye showed more attacking intent in the third quarter, which featured only one goal. Lillian Ames helped spark that stretch with several draw controls and a more aggressive approach carrying the ball forward, shifting momentum for the Bucks. Hailey Baisden, Danilovic, Galdun, Natalie Clark and Bianka Peters all contributed with hustle plays that helped Buckeye maintain possession and create several shot attempts as the team pushed more consistently into the offensive end.

The decisive turn came in the fourth quarter, when Green capitalized as Buckeye's defense began to wear down. After three competitive quarters, Green found uncharacteristic openings and converted multiple late chances to stretch the margin. Although the Bucks did not get on the scoreboard, the effort level remained steady throughout a game that was much tighter than the final score suggested.

For Buckeye, the performance offered several encouraging stretches, especially the defensive organization early and the possession gains in the third quarter. The Bucks left Green High School with a result that did not reflect how closely contested the game was for much of the night.