Lawrenceville returns to championship game

WEST WINDSOR » The Mercer County Tournament semifinals bring out the best in Annie Morgan.

A year ago, she had a goal and an assist to help Lawrenceville to the final.

Morgan set the tone early with a pair of goals as the top-seeded Big Red captured a 5-2 win over No. 4 Notre Dame in the MCT semifinals played on a brisk Thursday night at Mercer County Community College.

The win sends the Big Red (10-4) to their sixth final in the last seven years. They are the defending champion and have taken home the hardware in five of the last six years.

Morgan, who has a career high nine goals this season, opened the scoring at the 24:34 mark of the first half to give the Big Red a 1-0 lead. The assist on Morgan’s goal came from Ohio State-bound Tess Maloney.

“I love MCT games,” said Morgan. “Love it under the lights and we do a good job of bringing energy to these games.”

The Lawrenceville defense limited the Notre Dame (13-3-2) offense as they maintained control of the midfield in the first half and never let the Irish generate much of an attack.

The score grew to 2-0 when Morgan once again found the backboard from the left side with 20:05 left in the first half.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Morgan. “My team worked really hard to get the ball in there. They were the one’s that really got it and I was able to send it across.”

The Irish cut the deficit just two minutes into the second half when Cate Buecker took a pass from Maggie Blundi to make it 2-1.

“I’m very proud of the girls,” said ND coach Barbara Major. “We never quit and we played with a lot of heart.”

Less than a minute later Lawrenceville answered with a goal from Audrey Lazar for a 3-1 lead. Lazar added another and Meg Barnes chipped in with one to make it 5-1 with 9:49 left in the game.

There was no quit in the Irish as Blundi, who is headed to the University of California next fall, caged one to make it 5-2 at the 8:45 mark of the second half.

Notre Dame (13-3-2) Lawrenceville (10-4) Goals — 0 2 — 2 2 3 —

Morgan 2, Lazar 2, Barnes (L). Buecker, Blundi (ND).

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JOHN BLAINE — FOR THE TRENTONIAN Lawrenceville’s Annie Morgan attempts a shot at goal against Notre Dame during the Mercer County Tournament semifinal game on Thursday night at Mercer County CC.