WELLESLEY — With her team’s season on the line, Charlise Cox stepped up.
The senior captain sniped the game-winning goal with 2:42 left in regulation Thursday, as third-seeded Norwell stunned top-ranked Cohasset to win the Div. 4 girls lacrosse championship with a 9-8 victory at Babson College.
“Cohasset is a great team,” said Cox. “Going into today, we knew we had to put everything on the line to win. I think from the first whistle, we knew we wanted it so bad. We’ve been waiting for this, every practice, every draw control. We knew we had to get it. At the end, I just saw it and read it. I just wanted to do it for my team, and I just put it away.”
With the game knotted at 8 late, Cox took possession, and drove toward the crease unexpectedly. The defense couldn’t close in time, and the captain buried a shot to provide Norwell a 9-8 advantage.
With a minute to go, Cohasset’s Avery Regan lined up for a free position shot, but Norwell goaltender Charlotte Pithie denied the game-tying attempt as the Clippers sealed the victory.
There were countless storylines entering the title bout between the South Shore League rivals. Laura Callahan had propelled Norwell (19-3) to the state final in her inaugural year as coach of the Clippers, while former Norwell coach Kara Connerty stood on the opposing sideline, leading Cohasset (21-3) to its second straight final in her first year leading the Skippers.
The two foes battled to an 11-10 Cohasset victory on May 19. Not surprisingly, the championship clash followed a similar script.
Norwell opened the game’s scoring on a goal from senior captain Holly Panttila, only to watch Cohasset fight back with consecutive tallies from Molly Campbell and Maddie Campbell, giving the Skippers a 2-1 lead after one.
After Norwell rallied to make it a 3-2 game off of a free position shot from Natasha Mikus, Maddie Campbell registered her second goal for Cohasset with 2:18 to play in the second quarter as the Skippers drew even.
Norwell opened the second half with goals from Panttila, Caroline Burtch and Mikus, building a 6-3 lead with 5:50 left in the third quarter.
Cohasset responded once again, as Molly Campbell potted her second goal, before Regan scored and the Skippers trimmed it to 6-5 with 2:16 remaining in the stanza.
Panttila led Norwell offensively, finishing with a hat trick in the win. Burtch and Mikus added two goals apiece.
“I was so nervous for this game,” said Callahan. “Obviously, I’m so emotional. I’m so proud of these girls. They wanted it so bad. It was a funny season because of all the change, a whole new coaching staff. It took them a minute to buy in, and sort of get used to each other. I had to get used to them, they had to get used to me, I was worried about making mistakes.
“I just know these girls won today because they bought into the system. They played as a team, they were selfless. They worked so hard everyday at practice, and they earned this.”
