LONGMEADOW — It wasn’t perfect, but for Walpole girls lacrosse coach Mike Tosone, it was the kind of hard-fought win that builds character and much-needed momentum as the postseason approaches.
The Timberwolves stayed composed just long enough to escape with a 12–11 road win over Longmeadow Friday evening, holding off a wild second-half rally on the Lancers’ Senior Night.
Behind a season-high seven-goal performance from senior star Caitlyn Naughton and a first-half offensive showcase, Walpole (17-1) looked in complete control early. They jumped out to a 10–4 lead by halftime and extended it to 12–5 early in the third.
But that cushion quickly evaporated in the fourth quarter as Longmeadow (5-11) seized momentum, and nearly the game, capitalizing on multiple man-up opportunities and riding the red-hot stick of senior Sam Goodrich.
“We played hard,” Tosone said. “We played very, very hard, but we didn’t play intelligently. The emphasis at the end of the third quarter was, let’s continue to play hard, because we always do, but play with our gray matter a little bit more. And maybe we did, maybe we didn’t, but we eked it out anyway.”
After giving up five straight goals to Goodrich between the end of the third quarter and midway through the fourth, Walpole’s once-comfortable lead was cut to 12–11 with 5:30 remaining in the game.
Then came the cards.
First to junior Jenna Wong with just over two minutes left, after previous yellow cards had been issued to Naughton and Ava Maclean. With the Timberwolves playing down a player again, Longmeadow had one final opportunity.
But Walpole remained locked in.
“I thought we won ugly today, to be honest with you,” Tosone said. “We didn’t play smart. And that included getting the cards, too. We played physical, but those cards were deserved. So, I would say that we composed ourselves enough at the end to kill the clock. And that was the best thing, because that could be stressful.”
Naughton, as she has been all year, was everywhere.
She was early dominant in the draw circle, helped spark transition defense, and led the charge offensively with timely cuts and shots.
“She’s a special player,” Tosone said. “She’s a complete lacrosse player. Some people get blinded by the stats and assume that she’s a really good player because of the stats. She is a really good player, but she’s a really good player because she does more than just score.”
Naughton credited her teammates for creating space and feeding her the ball.
“All of us know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we were able to cut through, and everyone was able to make plays for me and make plays for each other,” Naughton, who’s been on the varsity team since a freshman, said.
That chemistry was evident in the first half, when Walpole went on a 10–2 run. But the team will look to clean up some mental lapses.
“We forced some passes that we don’t usually do,” Tosone said. “We forced some shots that we don’t usually do. And the cards were over the top. We played physical, but we want to play physical but not cross the line. They know where that line is, and they crossed over it a couple times. We’ll all accept responsibility for that.”
Even with the late-game miscues, the tight finish may prove valuable as Walpole prepares for postseason play.
“Maybe not early, but at some point in the [state] tournament, you’re going to have these make-or-break games,” Tosone said. “So, it’s good to have them during the course of the season. So, when it comes up again, that feeling of pressure, because you do feel the pressure, it’s something that you enjoy rather than shy away from.”
The Timberwolves have three regular-season games: road matchups at Duxbury on Monday, Needham on Thursday, and a home game against Natick on Tuesday.
