Braverman scores 100th career goal in Lenape's girls' lacrosse win
It's been said that it's never good to focus on personal milestones in team sports. But for three games, Lenape's Carlee Braverman would look to the sideline and see her lacrosse teammates holding balloons and giant signs, ready to go all-out in celebration of her 100th career goal.
But for three games, Lenape's Carlee Braverman would look to the sideline and see her lacrosse teammates holding balloons and giant signs, ready to go all-out in celebration of her 100th career goal.
After a while, the balloons can get to you.
"I really didn't want them to have to bring out the balloons for another game," Braverman said with a laugh after finally reaching the elusive milestone in Lenape's 21-11 win over visiting Haddonfield on Saturday afternoon.
Going in, Braverman needed two scores to reach 100. She netted her first just 27 seconds into the game, part of an early onslaught that helped Lenape build a 12-1 advantage.
She didn't score her second until 12 minutes into the second half.
It was partly because she was feeling a bit of pressure from "all those balloons waving around in front of me," she said.
But it's also because, as talented as Braverman is, she's surrounded by equally lethal scoring threats.
"Our whole team has been improving the whole season - we're a team that's been playing with a lot of heart," said Braverman, an athletic junior midfielder who contributes in each third of the field. "And that's why it's cool to share my 100th goal with my teammates - they're the ones who got me here."
Lenape brought back just four starters this season, but the four - Braverman, Gabby Fornia, Erin Donoghue, and Kasey Donoghue - form one of the most talented offensive units in the state.
That much was on display Saturday with Fornia and Kasey Donoghue each netting six goals, Erin Donoghue three, and Braverman two.
But what has really set the Indians apart recently is the steps made by their younger players.
Lenape (7-4) has four losses this season. Three were by one goal and one was a two-goal loss to state juggernaut Moorestown.
They're the types of losses, coach Jill McCarthy said, that can teach younger players about the value of playing with heart, of playing as a team - all areas in which she has seen improvement recently.
"I feel like the further we're getting into the season, our inexperience is showing less and less," McCarthy said. "And honestly, losing by just two goals to Moorestown was a huge confidence boost to us. I think we're really starting to believe that we have the talent and we belong in this fight" against the state's best teams.
Though Haddonfield (9-4) struggled early, coach Jessica Blake was happy with what she saw for most of the game.
The Bulldawgs were trailing by 12-1 before scoring six unanswered goals and played about even with Lenape the rest of the way.
"I think for most of the game, we played tough, hard lacrosse," Blake said. "I thought it was a good game."
Haddonfield 6 5 - 11
Lenape 12 9 - 21
Goals: H-Katie Pileggi 2, Suzie Clark 2, Jamie McCormack 3, Kat Ostbye, Caroline Beckett, Gabi Connor 2; L-Gabby Fornia 6, Erin Donoghue 3, Kasey Donoghue 6, Carlee Braverman 2, Lauren Figura 3, Sydnee Sapp.
Saves: H-Meghan Maynes 5; L-Aliza Band 4.