Verona’s defense was on point right off the bat, putting pressure on their opponent’s offense. They also were able to fix their game plays to build up momentum and stay dominant. “When we were down we just had to really focus on getting possession and taking care of the ball,” says Captain Dana Pena. She also adds that the heat played a factor in their game playing and staying calm by ignoring it was essential to get out of their early 1-2 deficit.
The referees were a part of the highlights as well, as they missed several injured players and kept the clock running. Two Verona players went down on the field after being injured and the refs failed to notice, allowing the game to keep running. Spectators were not afraid to show their disapproval, screaming at the refs to pay attention to the hurt players. The site manager was then called to the scene to settle the crowd.
Pena says she wishes the refs would have done more about it, but she spoke to them was told they didn’t believe the injured players were in the way of the game, so they waited until the ball was slowed down.
The number three seeded Verona will go on to play the number two seed Glen Ridge on Monday. They have two more practice days to prepare, and Pena adds that they are focusing on “slowing down their key players, keeping [their] composure, and playing lacrosse the way [they] know how to.”
