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Despite slow start, New Oxford dominates Spring Grove, 21-9


In addition to the tornado watch in effect in Spring Grove on Monday, there was also a 'Braxtin Reddinger watch' — maybe not officially — but the New Oxford junior did put on a show.

Reddinger torched Spring Grove for nine goals and three assists. Sophomore Raleigh Bateman and senior Aggie Phillips each chipped in with a hat trick as the Colonials overcame a slow start and dominated Spring Grove, 21-9.

"All week long our game prep was to shut down Raleigh (Bateman) and Braxtin (Reddinger) and you shut down New Oxford," Spring Grove head coach Jeff Richards said. "We bottled them up during the first 15 minutes, but once they get momentum, they're hard to stop."

The winless Rockets (0-11, 0-8 YAIAA Division I) did limit New Oxford's offense early on and for the first 15 minutes, it seemed that Spring Grove could be on their way to a victory for the first time this season. Trailing 3-1 after five minutes, Spring Grove went on a 5-0 run, holding the Colonials (5-5, 3-5 YAIAA Division I) scoreless for a ten-minute span.

Casey Franklin and Sam Richards each tallied two first-half goals, but after Franklin's goal with five minutes left in the half, the Rockets scored just two more goals — both midway through the second half.

"Once we hit seven, the wheels came off," Richards said. "We seem to get up and ride the momentum when we're up, but once we get down by a goal or two, we really have a hard time battling back. It has been like that all year."

After spotting the Rockets a three-goal lead, the Colonials flipped a switch, ending the first half on an 8-1 run.

"It always takes us quite a while to actually start playing lacrosse," New Oxford head coach Jess McIntyre said. "We were a totally different team after the first 15 or 20 minutes."

The Colonials outscored the Rockets, 15-2, over the last 35 minutes. With their win on Monday, New Oxford matched last season's win total.

Reddinger, who entered the game third in the league with 39 goals, scored four times in the first half, but her most impressive play may have come on an assist. With the score tied, 7-7, Reddinger drew a double-team and found Phillips cutting near the crease for an easy goal.

"She's unbelievable," Richards said of Reddinger. "She's just so fast. I had some of our quicker girls on her and we just couldn't stop her."

After being exiled from the starting lineup earlier in the season, Phillips finished with three goals and two assists on Monday.

"We took her out and told her that she wouldn't have a spot just because she's a senior," McIntyre said of Phillips. "She had to earn her spot. We took her out of the starting lineup and it lit a fire under her. She has come out a whole lot stronger."

Phillips opened the second half with a goal, then Reddinger added five more tallies as New Oxford began pulling away.

"I've tried stopping her (Reddinger) and we can't even do it," McIntyre joked. "She's just so fast. She's like lightning."

New Oxford 21, Spring Grove 9

New Oxford1110—21Spring Grove72—9

New Oxford goals — Braxtin Reddinger 9, Raleigh Bateman 3, Aggie Phillips 3, Katie Wildenstein 2, Lauren Slonaker 2, Chloe Pevarnik 2

New Oxford assists — Reddinger 3, Phillips 2, Olivia Woodward 2

Spring Grove goals — Casey Franklin 4, Sam Richards 3, Jordyn Miller, Lauren Grove

Spring Grove assists — Richards, Miller

Shots on goal — NOX 33, SG 17

Goalies — NOX, Emma Wantz (8 saves), SG, Zabrina Enders (12 saves)