Paul Records 200th Career Goal as Tigers Nip Bulldogs

As Jocelyn Paul established an astounding milestone, the team suffered a heartbreaking defeat. The senior sensation guided Oliver Ames with a game high eight goals, including her 200th career goal, en route to a 17-16 win over the Bulldogs in Friday’s Hockomock League’s Davenport Division match-up at

With the win, the Tigers improved to 3-8 overall while the Bulldogs fell to 4-5.

“It was a great win for the girls and a great day for the program of Oliver Ames’ Girls Lacrosse,’’ Coach Kelly Downs said. “She’s (Paul) set a great example for us for four years, and she’s the all time leading scorer in the program’s history. It’s something she should be very proud of, and she’s set the bar high. We still have seven games remaining, so who knows how many goals she’s going to end up with when the season ends.”

In the losing effort, the Bulldogs were led by Meghan McKenna, who notched a team high six goals while Michelle McNeill, Jackie Merrigan, Meghan McKinnon, Emma Compagna and Sarah Healy, all chipped in with two goals apiece.

“It was anyone’s game, and we had our chances to win,’’ Bulldog Coach Chris Murtaugh said. “We made some mistakes in the first half, and we didn’t win as many face-offs as I would’ve liked. When we won the face-offs, we were able to drive the ball down field and score, and when we didn’t, and then they (Oliver Ames) would take advantage. We had several chances to close it out, but we just couldn’t finish.”

With just 1:04 elapsed, the Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead on McKenna’s first goal before the Tigers struck back with a pair of quick tallies. After Gina Franciosi tied the contest with 19:33 remaining in the first half, Paul notched her first goal seconds later, scoring off a fast-break opportunity on the ensuing face-off. Within a span of just: 24, Paul erupted for a pair of goals as the Tigers grabbed a 4-2 lead.

After goals by McKinnon and McNeill just 1:13 apart handed the Bulldogs a brief 3-2 lead, Paul tied the contest with 16:38 remaining, scoring off a loose ball in the circle. Seconds later, Paul would strike again, finishing off a breakaway opportunity as the Tigers grabbed a 4-3 lead.

McKenna’s second goal of the game only 1:20 later tied the contest before Paul would register her third. Off a centering pass from Franciosi, Paul whisked a shot that eluded Michelle Rigo short side with 13:58 remaining.

As the Bulldogs counter attacked, Merrigan retied the contest, scoring off a feed from McKinnon before Paul and Michaela Simoneau knocked down goals only: 12 apart as the Tigers grabbed a 7-5 lead. McKinnon’s goal with 9:18 remaining in the first half closed the Bulldog deficit within one before the Tigers answered back with four unanswered tallies. Kelliane Doherty extended the lead to 8-6 on a free shot before Christina Simonson finished off a breakaway en route to a 9-6 edge.

After accomplishing another face-off win, history was achieved with 4:04 remaining in the first half as Paul notched her 200th career goal for the 10-6 Tiger lead. Intercepting an attempted clear, Paul moved in all alone and fired a shot past Rigo top shelf.

“I think she was a little nervous at first, but she got into a groove and was really hitting her shots,’’ Downs said. “I’m so proud of her and all that she’s accomplished for the team. The other girls did a nice job on defense and our goalkeeper (Meaghan Morris) had one of her best games.”

Another goal by Simoneau handed the Tigers an impressive 11-6 lead with 3:51 remaining before the Bulldogs finished the half on a 3-1 run. After Healy’s goal closed the gap within 11-7 before goals by McNeill and Compagna in the half’s final seconds brought the Bulldogs within 12-9 at the half.

“The girls kept battling and battling and they never gave up,’’ Murtaugh said. “They’re (Oliver Ames) are an explosive team on offense, and we found ways to slow them down in the second half.  When we tried to slow them down offensively, we couldn’t finish our shots and we couldn’t recover.”

Facing a 12-9 halftime deficit, the Bulldogs emerged on a 4-0 run to grab a brief 13-12 lead. After McKenna’s connected on a shot from the point just: 59 into the second half, Merrigan struck again from the outside only 1:25 later as the Bulldogs closed within 12-11.

As both teams stalled, the Bulldogs capitalized as Healy scored with 12:56 remaining to tie the contest before McKenna added her fourth goal of the contest for the 13-12 lead.

Seconds later, Paul would connect on her seventh goal of the game, as the Tigers tied the contest at 13-13.

Regaining momentum, the Bulldogs engineered a 15-13 lead as McKenna struck with a pair of goals only 1:13 apart.

“McKenna had a great game, and she’s a great leader,’’ Murtaugh said. “She always finds ways to make things happen out there.”

Following a brief time out, the Tigers regrouped as goals by Paul, Franciosi and Simoneau within a span of 3:48 transformed a 15-13 deficit into a 17-15 lead with 5:11 left.

“They (Oliver  Ames) got out into that run in the second half, and that was pretty much the difference in the game,’’ Murtaugh said. “They came in and executed on their opportunities, and we didn’t finish ours.”

Stealing an intercepted clear, Compagna finished off a breakaway opportunity as the Bulldogs closed within 17-16 with 1:43 remaining. On  the ensuing face-off, the Bulldogs managed to control the ball in the offensive zone, but failed to capitalize as Morris stopped four shots from close range in the game’s final seconds to secure the victory.