Emotion fuels lacrosse players in rival match up

By TOM CHEREDAR, Staff Writer
tched@williamsonherald.com

Centennial’s girls’ lacrosse team (3-5) took home more than a win after defeating rivals the Knight Eagles 16-11 at Academy Field in Franklin Tuesday.

Before forming their own team, the Lady Cougars were initially a part of the Knight Eagles’ team, which is comprised of athletes from different Williamson County high schools such as Independence, Franklin Classical, Page and BGA.

The win on their former home field counts as a huge achievement for the Lady Cougars, according to Centennial coach Bay Clevenger.

“A couple of us played on the Independence team a few years ago,” said junior Jillian Olsen, who added that she knows eight of the girls on the Knight Eagles team.

“This is pretty much our main game,” Olsen said. She led the Cougars in scoring with seven total points.

“I just really wanted to go out there and push it. My teammates helped out a lot with assists,” Olsen said of the first period lead.

The Knight Eagles scored only three goals during the first half to Centennial’s 10, which coach Kim Miller was not happy about.

“It was unfortunately negative motivation,” Miller said to the team between periods.

The second half of the game, however, saw a point rally from Knight Eagle captains Rachel Delozier, who scored four points (six total) and Jordyn Elrod, who scored two.

“They’re really hard on themselves,” Miller said. “If they’re losing to Centennial they’re going to step up themselves. There is not really much I can say as far as to pump them up. 

Miller said it was emotion that gave the players a boost in the second half.

“It’s not going to matter if I’m mad at them, they don’t care [because] they’re mad at themselves,” she said, adding that in the second half “they got mad.”

The Knight Eagles have a 4-4 record for the season and must win at least three of the next four games to make the playoffs. They play first year team Cookville (0-5) Apr. 13.

The Lady Cougars will travel to Ravenwood (6-5), the fifth-ranked team in their conference, April 12. 

Posted on: 4/12/2007