GREEN BAY – A nail-biting showdown unfolded at Notre Dame Academy as the Tritons (1-0) battled past the Oregon Panthers (0-1) in a girls lacrosse game that had fans on the edge of their seats.
With mere seconds left in regulation, No. 13 Josalyn White sealed the victory with a decisive goal, leading the Tritons to a 12-11 win.
White, who scored 11 goals in the game, led Notre Dame’s offensive charge, demonstrating a combination of skill, composure and tactical awareness.
“Obviously, for the last goal, we wanted an isolation play,” White said post-game, describing the timeout strategy that set her up for the game-winning moment. “The time ran down, and I knew I had to go… I ended up winning the game.”
The game saw consistent back-and-forth action, with neither team pulling ahead by more than two goals.
The Tritons entered halftime tied 5-5 after a heated exchange of goals in the second quarter, highlighting White's persistence and Oregon’s tenacity.
Notre Dame surged ahead early in the third quarter with standout performances from Lucy Philips and White, extending their lead to 9-8 by the end of the quarter.
Oregon fought back in the fourth quarter, tying the score twice and briefly pulling ahead. With 7:51 remaining, White weaved past defenders and scored her 10th goal of the game, tying the score at 11-11.
After a clutch save by senior keeper Morgan Gokey and a perfect long-distance pass to Philips, the Tritons were perfectly positioned to seal the game.
Coach Hailey Anderson called a timeout with 4:31 remaining.
“This is our home field and our game to win,” she said during the timeout. “You girls just need to want it more.”
After a tense 4 minutes and 21 seconds, White delivered the game-winning goal with 10 seconds left on the clock.
Her poise under pressure, combined with 11 goals and 1 assist, earned her the “grittiest player of the game” honor — a Notre Dame-branded hardhat symbolizing tenacity and teamwork.
Despite the thrilling win, White acknowledged areas for growth as the team looks to maintain momentum throughout the season.
“We all need to step up as a team,” she said. “I got the ball a lot, and we want to try and spread the touches out more evenly. Everyone needs to be ready to play and know their roles.”
The Notre Dame girls are scheduled to play next Tuesday, April 1, at Appleton North High School against Appleton United (0-0).
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