Sonoma lacrosse girls in championship game

Topped Elk Grove in quarterfinals, Napa in semifinals|

The Sonoma Valley girls high school lacrosse team, the Thunder, pulled off double victories last Saturday in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association (NCJLA) playoffs with wins against the Elk Grove Gladiators and the Napa Force.

The two wins earned the team a spot in the championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at Patelco Field in Pleasanton against the Morgan Hill Clovers.

At halftime against Elk Grove, the Thunder trailed 6-4 but fought their way back in the second half to earn the semifinal bid. Hannah Walton, a first-year player had a stellar day in goal with 10 saves for the game. Skye Whitlock and Mary Gallo posted a combined six goals in the first half to keep the Thunder in the game, and with additional help from teammates Alexis Lage, Grace Fragakis and Natalie Labanowski in the second half, they managed to defeat the Gladiators 13-12.

Just an hour after finishing the first game, the team faced a fresh Napa Force squad for the fourth time this season, but with different results.

Napa was seeded first in the seven-team playoff and had a bye in the first round. Tied 6-6 at halftime, the game was hard fought on both sides, but the Sonoma girls fought a bit harder to pull off the victory with a 14-12 finish. Once again, Walton kept the Thunder in the game with her quick reflexes in the cage. Whitlock and Sophia Haeuser each scored four goals with the five by Gallo and a single from Taylor Pieri sealed the win.

The Thunder is Sonoma’s first girls’ high school lacrosse team in the Valley. They launched their season in February with a team comprised of mainly first-year players and a handful of more seasoned athletes.

The team quickly acquired the skills to become competitive in the NCJLA finishing the regular season with a 5-8 record.

As the season progressed, the team gained momentum and confidence which ultimately earned them a spot in Sunday’s championship game.

“This is an incredibly hard-working group of athletes,” said head coach Lou Biaggi, a 14-year veteran coach of girls’ lacrosse. “I’m so impressed with how far the team has come. This year was about laying the foundation for the future of lacrosse in Sonoma, and I’m unbelievably proud of them for making it to the championship in their first season.”

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