LACROSSE - Varsity Match 2011
Saturday 26 February 2011
Parkers’ Piece was transformed into a muddy sea of varying shades of blue this Saturday, playing host to several close wins for Cambridge Lacrosse.
The Women’s Blues played a different, tenser, game to that which they have played all season: the annually echoed phrase ‘everything changes on Varsity day’ rang true as ever. An early break for Oxford gave them the lead but with nerves running high neither team was able to settle. The talismanic Ellie Walshe soon provided Cambridge’s response with a nifty penalty shot and it was 1-1. Despite some beautiful midfield passing from co-captains Anna Harrison and Laura Plant Oxford soon scored two in quick succession , and Cambridge were trailing for the second time.
A period of scrappy attacking play just before half-time was soon remedied by centre Alana Livesey, who ploughed through the fan and dodged two defenders before parking the ball firmly into Oxford’s net. Livesey also took the next goal: 3-3 at half-time.
At the start of the second half, Oxford showed good pace to score again. However, fresher Georgie Prichard replied in kind, dodging past a defender to slot it cleanly into the corner. Laura Plant, fresh off the plane from touring the US with England, soon provided even more “pretty lacrosse” by spinning past her defender and planting (pun intended) the ball into the back of the net.
Despite some strong defending by quadruple-blues Ellie Walshe and ‘the tall’ Gen Gotla, the score reached 6-6 and the tension was high. As Cambridge went 7-6 up, ecstatic stick-swinging goal celebrations by her teammate left Livesey with a head injury requiring stitches – ironically the only blood drawn in the game. A disallowed goal for Oxford saw the crowd revert from booing into cheering.
With four minutes remaining, Cambridge pulled away and took the score to 9-6. The Women’s Blues pulled through today and showed determination in a season-defining match. Their undefeated streak this year will hopefully continue, as they move into the final rounds of the BUCS Premier Championship.
The Men’s Firsts had an equally storming game, taking clear control from the outset. Captain Duncan Barrigan’s opening goal provided the Light Blues with the confidence they needed in attack. A clean quick-stick goal from Dan Montgomery, and another by Harvard-alumnus Tom Barron, left Cambridge 3-0 up ten minutes in.
The crowd reacted loudly to several big hits to both teams, the physical nature of the game truly on show. Goalie Sam Spurrell provided great dynamism in the game, sprinting up into attack and assisting a goal. His mobility and communication organised the defence and Cambridge reached 5-0 at quarter-time. A yellow card for the Oxford captain El-Sayed provided Carl Tilbury with an opportunity to score, which he duly did. Shortly, Michael Lipton drove up the right wing and curved in towards goal, scoring with a powerful shot . Oxford’s Beresford scored just before the half time whistle, the score standing at 9-1.
Oxford returned to the pitch with energetic resolve, and the score reached 10-5 within minutes. Cambridge needed to up their aggression. Tilbury was presented with a golden opportunity and he ‘wound up’ like a spring before exploding the ball into the back of the net. 11-6 to Cambridge.
Oxford inched closer with penalty shots and careful attacking play and Cambridge seemed riled. But Tilbury scored his final goal with his left hand, and the whistle came to leave the final score at 14-9 to the Light Blues.
The Women’s Seconds (the Kingfishers) put in a sterling performance earlier in the day, pulling back from losing with 15 minutes remaining, to come out victorious at 7-6. Great determination and nerve must be accredited to co-captains Amelia Duncanson and Ellie Pithers.
Women’s Blues
Cambridge 9 : 6 Oxford
Women’s Kingfishers
Cambridge 7 : 6 Oxford
Men’s Firsts
Cambridge 14 : 9 Oxford
Losses for Men’s Eagles & Mixed.
