Andrew Giermak

NORFOLK – Norfolk Academy turned the biggest regular season day in TCIS lacrosse into a lopsided sweep over Nansemond-Suffolk Tuesday afternoon.

The host Bulldogs won the girls match, outscoring the Lady Saints 13-5 in the last 35 minutes of the game for a 15-10 win; and the boys match, as the Bulldogs scored 10 times in the opening 12 minutes en route to an 18-6 victory over previously unbeaten NSA.

In the girls match, things looked good for the Lady Saints early on.

NA struck first, 2:33 into the match, but Sadie O’Connor scored on an assist from Maggie Standing at the 4:21 mark.

The NSA goal started at the opposite end of the field on a save and then clearing pass by keeper Olivia White.

NA’s high pressure defense backfired on them for one of the few times on the day as NSA moved the ball quickly down the field, ending up with Standing on the right side of goal passing across to O’Connor on the left for the goal.

O’Connor, off an assist from Genny Stulb, gave NSA the lead three minutes later and NA made it 2-2 at the 9:10 mark.

It took only 16 seconds for NSA to regain the lead with Martha Rawls driving into the slot and then placing a shot in the lower left corner of the goal.

The NSA attack looked strong as goals by Parris Grieder and Stulb built NSA’s lead to 5-2 with 13:58 to play in the first half, but NA’s defense turned the tide from there.

With aggressive defense all over the field, NA kept the game in the NSA half of the field for long portions of the rest of the half.

NA cut the lead to 5-4 with 9:08 showing in the half and then scored two goals, 28 seconds apart, in the last minute of the half to take a 6-5 halftime lead.

Even during stretches when NA was not generating scoring opportunities for themselves, NSA was unable maintain possession long enough to get any offense going.

NA scored twice in the opening 2:30 of the second half to make it 8-5 NA.

Rawls responded with a goal after a long run by Stulb brought the ball into the NA arc and then Stulb found Rawls for the shot.

But again, after Rawls’ goal, the chances dried up for the Lady Saints.

NA scored three of the next four goals, building an 11-7 lead with 12:14 left.

Courtney White scored two goals in the final 11 minutes and Stulb completed her hat trick but NA maintained a healthy lead and more than made up for their earlier 10-8 loss at NSA by winning the match that counts in the TCIS.

In the boys match, the Bulldogs stormed NSA with a first quarter stretch of six goals in a span of 2:47 to take firm control and run their record to 9-1 (4-0 TCIS) at the expense of NSA’s undefeated record.

NA scored 2:34 into the match, but Kyle Jett scored an unassisted goal for NSA 29 seconds later.

NA regained the lead 39 seconds after Jett’s goal, but NSA tied it at the 4:42 mark as Bobby Flintoff scored, signaling an expected back-and-forth contest.

The Bulldogs piled on the fast, aggressive play and impressive passing though, and beginning only 19 seconds after Flintoff’s goal, NA regained the lead and went on to build an 8-3 lead with 4:12 still to play in the opening period.

NA built their lead to 10-3 by quarter’s end and then killed off an NSA two-man advantage to start the second period.

After the penalties expired, NA got the next three goals, going up 13-3 with 4:20 left in the half.

Tyler Van Selow and Flintoff scored two goals each for the Saints, Flintoff also added two assists.

&uot;We did not show up today,&uot; said NSA head coach Trent Blythe, &uot;they are a very good team and we have a lot of respect for them.&uot;

&uot;The important thing is that we learn from this and come back and work hard.

Hopefully we will see them again in the (TCIS) tournament.&uot;

The Lady Saints (9-2) go to Norfolk Collegiate Friday afternoon (4 p.m.) and the Saints (8-1) host the Oaks at 6 p.m.