Fueled by physical defense and persistent offensive pressure, the Newark Memorial Cougars girls’ lacrosse team overpowered the Moreau Catholic Mariners in their regular season finale, prevailing 15-5. The win capped an unorthodox season for Newark who—due to home field renovations—played every game on the road.
Despite starting the year on a six-game losing streak, the Cougars entered the match energized, having notched back-to-back wins against Alhambra and Washington. The Cougars also held their annual Senior Night ceremony pregame, honoring each graduating senior on the team with posters and a photoshoot. Newark thanked Moreau for hosting—the event is typically held at home—and gave each Mariner senior a round of applause and flowers.
Moreau controlled possession early, with star attacker Ayana Wilmot leading a methodical push. But Newark’s defense held firm, blocking multiple shots—including a Wilmot free-position attempt—to hold the Mariners scoreless for over five minutes.
The Cougars also converted their strong defense into offensive counterattacks, with attacker Thalia Hernandez and midfielders Carlie Webber and Gianna Hernandez helping spark a six-goal first quarter. Moreau slowed the tempo in the second quarter, more often setting up their defense instead of playing in transition. In addition, Wilmot began to heat up, ultimately ending the first half with three goals. But Newark led 9-4 at halftime.
In the second half, Newark continued to swarm Wilmot with tighter coverage and stick checks, forcing multiple rushed passes and contested shots. Meanwhile, the Cougars’ offense stayed sharp as attackers continued notching goals.
Despite the growing deficit, Moreau remained positive, encouraging fellow teammates with cheers and high-fives. Moreover, the Mariners tightened their defense and added a goal early in the fourth quarter. But Newark’s lead only widened, with two late goals sealing a 15-5 result.
After the game, Cougars head coach Zyra Pineda praised Hernandez’s offensive performance, as well as midfielder Juliana Barbosa, who was tasked with defending Wilmot.
“Julie [Juliana] played great defense on [Wilmot], which I believe is the reason Moreau wasn’t able to score as much,” Pineda said. “[Wilmot]’s definitely tough and a top scorer, so Julie stopping her and limiting her looks was really the main reason for this win.”
Webber also credited the team’s showing to the game’s added stakes and strong camaraderie.
“Because it was Senior Night, we were better at grabbing the momentum, which we kept for most of the game,” Webber said. “And once we got a couple goals ahead, we also got to switch positions and let some of our defenders go on attack. We knew some of them had never scored before, so it gave the whole team extra motivation to give them that opportunity.”
Moreau continues its season on April 18 with a non-league exhibition, facing the Head-Royce Jayhawks at home at 6pm. Meanwhile, Newark remains optimistic about its future and hopes to see regional involvement in lacrosse grow.
“Although we’re losing a lot of top players because they’re seniors, our underclassmen are stepping up and showing a lot of skill development,” Pineda said. “Also, since lacrosse is a newer sport [in the area], I’d love to see more schools start programs. I hope more girls try lacrosse and keep it going.”
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