Nauset Wins Back-And-Forth First Round Tournament Game

NORTH EASTHAM – After beating Bishop Stang over a month ago, Nauset girls lacrosse senior captain Abby Powers said she hoped the team could start a win streak to keep the season going strong.

The Warriors essentially did exactly that. They were 1-4 and thereafter rattled off a stretch of 10 wins in 12 games to close the regular season. Now Nauset has continued that winning run into the postseason, beating Archbishop Williams 17-15 in the first round of the Division 3 state tournament last Thursday.

It was a game that Head Coach Heather Stevens said she knew would be an even matchup and a close back-and-forth. No. 16 seed Nauset (11-6) and No. 17 seed Archbishop Williams (15-5) traded leads into an 8-8 tie to end the first half. The Warriors pulled out to a 17-12 lead in the fourth quarter, but Archbishop Williams fired back to within two before Nauset held firm for the last three minutes.

“We just kept our heads up the whole game,” junior captain Julia Kipperman said. “We were down a little bit at the beginning, but we just kept it going. We just kept scoring and scoring and scoring. The team just really just put on the gas today, and it just really showed who wanted it.”

Kipperman, a midfielder, scored 12 goals for Nauset, including seven in the first half. She won draws, seemingly outran Archbishop William’s entire defense at times, threw dodges and scored goals diving to her right — making for a conspicuous impact on the field. 

“We really wanted this today,” Kipperman said. “It’s just nice that we can keep going because I just love this group of girls, and I just want to keep playing with them.”

Senior captains Zoe Labdon and Abby Powers both scored twice, and senior captain Laurel Ricard scored once for Nauset. In net, junior Norah Swanson played the first half and freshman Maeve Kennally took the second. Each goalkeeper made five saves. The Warriors won draws 25-11.

“Knowing that my teammates have my back and everyone just has each other’s back just shows that we can just do anything,” said Kipperman, “and even if I turn it over or I miss a shot, I know that my teammates on D and my goalies have my back to get the ball and we can do it all over again.” 

Stevens said Kipperman, who was announced Monday as the MVP of the Cape and Islands League Atlantic Division, has “exploded” this year.

“I think she has that confidence and has gained it over the years to really step up, and I mean, I’m blown away,” Stevens said.

Labdon and Powers were named Cape and Islands League Atlantic Division All-Stars. Senior Ali Seppala received an honorable mention. Nauset also won the Team Sportsmanship award.

Kipperman said after the game she was “so proud of this team right now.” 

“We started a little rough, but through this season we’ve just gotten better and better,” she said. “Our relationships with everyone on the team is amazing. We just love each other so much, and it just today really showed who wanted it and how much we love each other and how much we love this sport and how we want to make everyone happy, especially our coaches.”

Nauset next visits No. 1 seed Medfield (17-3) in the second round Thursday, June 5.