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Brostrand sparks Camden Catholic lacrosse win

It has become a running joke between Camden Catholic girls' lacrosse attack Cait Brostrand and coach Bridget Bigley.

It has become a running joke between Camden Catholic girls' lacrosse attack Cait Brostrand and coach Bridget Bigley.

Brostrand's four goals in Thursday's 17-2 home win over Gloucester Catholic put her just 11 shy of Camden Catholic's career record of 236 goals.

But whenever the fast-approaching milestone is brought up, Bigley said, "I'll always tell her, 'As soon as you get within one goal, you're going to get benched.' "

Kind of a cruel joke. But not so much when you consider that it's Bigley's record that Brostrand is destined to shatter.

Bigley set the mark in 2002.

And, joking aside, she couldn't be happier to see it broken.

"That's what records are for, to be broken," Bigley said. "I think Cait might even get 300 this year and I'd be so proud of her."

It has been a fast rise for Brostrand, a senior who didn't start playing lacrosse until her freshman year.

She scored only six goals as a freshman but netted 103 last year.

It's an eye-popping total that has gotten the attention of most defenses in South Jersey.

Thursday, Gloucester Catholic (1-3 overall, 1-1 Olympic Freedom), in its first year of varsity lacrosse, looked polished and organized in marking, double-teaming, and often face-guarding Brostrand throughout the game.

"It's tough because I'm used to being open and being able to go," Brostrand said. "But I guess more teams know about me. And it makes it a little more difficult.

"But it's not frustrating. I think of it as a challenge; it makes me work harder. And I know I can always depend on my teammates."

That teamwork is what has Bigley especially excited about this season.

Though Brostrand, a La Salle recruit, is the team's biggest threat, the Irish feature several other potent scoring options and a strong defense.

"We know we can't have just one scorer," Bigley said. "The other girls know they have to step up, and that's what they've been doing."

Thursday, seven players netted goals for Camden Catholic (5-0, 1-0), including senior midfielder Cait McGinley, who led the team with five goals, and senior Rachel Murtin, who scored a hat trick in the first half.

"We all just work really well off of each other," McGinley said. "We have speed, we have girls who are really fast, and we're really a balanced team this year."

It has been a smooth start for Camden Catholic so far. But in a tough Olympic Conference Freedom Division, the Irish know they have their work cut out.

Camden Catholic has to keep pace with Bishop Eustace, ranked No. 10 in The Inquirer's Top 10, and No. 7 Haddonfield.

So even though the goals record is just around the corner, Brostrand's main focus is the matchup with the Crusaders on Monday at 6 p.m. at Bishop Eustace.

"I try not to think about the record," Brostrand said. "I just try to go out there and win, have fun, and make sure we're doing well as a team.

"As long as we stay together, we should have a good season."

Gloucester Catholic   2 0 – 2

Camden Catholic   7 10 – 17

Goals: GC-Britt Cogan 2; CC-Cait McGinley 5, Cait Brostrand 4, Rachel Murtin 3, Shannon McCormick 2, Allison Scott, Claire Higgins, Katie Wheeler.

Saves: GC-Paige Carerro 7; CC-Tracy Austin 3.