New York Charging 14, Maryland Charm 13

Charging: Patience leads the way in historic win

New York did not get off to the start it wanted in the inaugural Maybelline Women's Lacrosse League game. Despite a roster loaded with some of the best offensive players in women’s lacrosse history, the Charging scored just five goals in the first half.

Goalie Madison Doucette -- who finished with 12 saves at a 48% clip -- and the New York defense kept the game within two goals at the break, but there was plenty the Charging needed to change during halftime.

For head coach Colleen Magarity, that meant it was time to turn up the tempo.

“We wanted to get out of the sub box fast and just push it to let us play a little looser,” Magarity said. “Once we started to play without thinking a lot, I thought we started to click a little bit more.”

That looser style finally led to a breakthrough on offense, led by Emily Hawryschuk (four goals) and Belle Smith (four assists), who both looked like Golden Stick Award candidates in the second half.

“I think as we [settled down], you started to see some of the potential that the New York Charging can put out there,” Kylie Ohlmiller said postgame.

New York scored nine of its 14 goals in the second half to come from behind and win, and there’s only room to grow after quiet games from stars like Ohlmiller and Izzy Scane.

Once the Charging started pushing in transition and finding their groove on offense, it only amplified the strong defensive showing. By focusing more attention on Maryland’s Sydni Black, New York suffocated the Charm offense, allowing the Charging to take over the game.

The Charging will have mistakes to clean up as they progress in the Maybelline WLL Championship Series, but on Tuesday night, it was time to celebrate. The first win in league history is a one-of-one moment, and it will forever belong to New York. 

Up next for New York: vs. California Palms (Friday, 7 p.m. ET)

Charm: Defense comes as advertised

When Maryland’s roster was revealed, there was no doubt that defense was the strength. In the first game in league history, the Charm more than lived up to the hype on the defensive end. Former Tewaaraton Award finalist Lizzie Colson dominated from end line to end line with four ground balls and a game-high four caused turnovers.

In settled sets, Maryland set the tone. Colson and company weaponized their skill to wreak havoc and force turnovers, all while winning one-on-one matchups and limiting open shots. Even when New York got off solid looks, goalie Caylee Waters played well with 11 saves.

“To limit an offense like the Charging to 14 in a game that is so offensively minded is a huge testament to our defense,” Charm head coach Taylor Cummings Danseglio said.

Even as the Charging found their offense in the second half, Maryland still looked the part defensively. However, the Charm offense never gelled the way it needed to.

Black (4G, 1A) is an early Golden Stick front-runner, but the offense struggled to generate clean looks when she didn’t have the ball. As the Charging started to help aggressively on Black, the Charm lost their spark on offense.

One assist for Alex Aust Holman. No assists for Grace Griffin or Aurora Cordingly. The first game with a new team in a new league is going to come with growing pains. With more experience will come more rhythm, better ball movement and more comfort as a unit.

“With an All-Star roster like this, you know, it just takes time,” Black said. “When you have so much talent on offense … you just trust each other and play your own game and play together, it'll all come together as a team.”

And with Black on the high left wing, there are at least three goals written in pen every time the Charm hit the field.

Up next for Maryland: vs. Boston Guard (Thursday, 9 p.m. ET)