The excitement surrounding Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District complex was palpable Thursday night as the two best girl’s high school lacrosse teams in the state, the St. Mary’s Academy Blues (SMA) and the Oregon City High School Pioneers, met to determine the champion of the 2007 Oregon Girl’s Lacrosse Association (OGLA) State Tournament. After a back-and-forth game in which, at one point, St. Mary’s was down 7-2, the Blues pulled off a dramatic comeback, winning, in overtime, 15-11. The win capped an undefeated season (19-0).
Both teams were making their championship game debuts, and the teams were ranked #1 (SMA) and #2 (Oregon City) in the state. Twelve minutes into the game, Oregon City was up 6-0 before Colleen O’Donnell scored for St. Mary’s. The half-time score was 7-2. The tides turned in the 2nd half, as the Blues scored seven of the first eight goals. With 10:29 to play in the game, St. Mary’s was up 9-8. Regulation (50 minutes) ended with the teams tied.
The game went into overtime with the teams tied at 11 goals apiece. Junior goalie Happy Lathrop had ice running through her veins as she and the defense kept the Pioneers of Oregon City scoreless in the six minutes of overtime. The offense took over, led by junior scoring machine Sally Roberts (48 goals during the regular season), junior Colleen O’Donnell, and senior co-captain Maggie Cech, who had two important goals and an assist in the overtime.
Maggie Cech was named Most Valuable Player, scoring six goals in her final game in a St. Mary’s uniform. Fellow captain and senior Katie O’Donnell added two goals, and her sister, junior Colleen, nicknamed “Boomer” at all of 5’2”, scored the first SMA goal and added a crucial goal in overtime to seal the title for the Blues.
“We are so proud of our lacrosse team,” gushes Principal Patricia Barr, “the hard work and many hours of practice the girls put in have certainly paid off and they are great representatives of our school.”
Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.
Maggie Cech was named Most Valuable Player, scoring six goals in her final game in a St. Mary’s uniform. Fellow captain and senior Katie O’Donnell added two goals, and her sister, junior Colleen, nicknamed “Boomer” at all of 5’2”, scored the first SMA goal and added a crucial goal in overtime to seal the title for the Blues.