Indian Creek Girls Prep For Postseason

The Indian Creek girls lacrosse program has taken a circuitous path in recent seasons.

After excelling in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference and winning consecutive championships in 2013 and 2014, the Eagles moved up to the B Conference for the last four seasons, only to run up against the often superior depth of other teams from larger schools with larger student populations.

Back in the C Conference this season after a four-year tour, the Eagles are once again squarely competitive and playing well. “We’re playing similar-sized schools, and it’s great to be competitive again,” said Indian Creek coach Steve Willett. “In the B Conference we’d be competitive for a half or three-quarters of the game, and then the depth of the other schools would take over.”

A 15-2 win over Oldfields on April 23 moved the Eagles to 5-3 in IAAM C play this season. Sarah Mathes led Indian Creek with nine goals on the day, while Kallie Huff scored three goals, Megan Bunker added two goals and 12 draw controls, and Kara Matthews scored one goal and added three assists. Cali Schwerdfeger and Mary Kate House added assists in the victory for the Eagles.

A notable win came in a 16-15 defeat of Beth Tfiloh, when Mathes scored the game-winning goal in the closing seconds for a road win over a team ahead of Indian Creek in the conference standings. “Beth Tfiloh, they’re always strong, tough kids, well-coached, great home-field atmosphere, and we won in the last seconds,” said Willett. “[Sarah] has been our big scorer this year as a senior leader and captain, having a great season for us.”

Willett noted that many of the team members were part of the school’s spring musical production of “Newsies,” and with their successful theater performances now complete, they’re turning their attention to the rest of the season and the postseason. “We’re psyched now to have some continuity until the end,” said Willett. “We’re looking forward to the playoffs.”

This article was originally published in the May 1 edition of the Severna Park Voice.