BLOOMFIELD — Charlotte Caggiano had been thinking about the Group 1 North girls lacrosse final for an entire year – and she wasn't very happy about it. Particularly not after Mountain Lakes found itself down four goals after the first quarter.
But Caggiano, a sophomore, helped rally the Lakers to a second-half comeback, and an 11-10 road victory against Glen Ridge on June 10. It is Mountain Lakes' fourth straight sectional title.
The Lakers will face Rumson-Fair Haven in the Group 1 final at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Ridge. The Mountain Lakes boys will play South champion Glen Ridge in the second game of the championship doubleheader.
The Lakers boys knocked off Ramsey on June 11 to earn their 12th straight Group 1 North title.
Last spring, the Ridgers girls came out of the South and beat Mountain Lakes, 9-8, in the Group 1 final, a loss that simmered.
"We took that anger and put it into this game. We carried all that rage onto the field with us," said Caggiano, who won six of the eight second-half draws. "There was a lot of pressure, a lot of nerves. I wanted to win it for everybody. I knew they had my back. It's that team mentality that helps me get over the pressure."
Caggiano didn't win any draw controls when Mountain Lakes defeated Glen Ridge, 16-7, at Watsessing Park in a Stars & Stripes crossover on April 25. Instead, senior Kaylin Oey had nine and classmate Abby Hawes seven.
But in the sectional final, Caggiano's presence allowed Oey, in particular, to play on the circle instead – and she had a hat trick. Hawes added two late goals, both off eight-meter shots after she'd been fouled.
Sophomore attack Avery Reid had a goal and four assists in the third-seeded Lakers' third-quarter comeback.
Mountain Lakes was down five goals less than two minutes into the third, but Hawes' goal with three seconds left helped close to within one. Junior attack Nora Lin – who had scored four times against Glen Ridge in April – tied the game in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Hawes' game-winner came with 5:40 to play.
Hawes went three-for-three on sectional trophies this spring, helping the Lakers' soccer team earn its third straight Group 1 title and got basketball its first sectional trophy since 2006. Sophomore midfielder Shea Sutter and junior twins Kristine and Katelyn Squeglia were also part of those three.
"Anything would have been worth it: blood, sweat and tears," said Hawes, who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Ohio State lacrosse. "I can't even put it into words, especially a game like this. Losing in the state final was so heartbreaking. Getting to win with this group and getting that revenge is so special."