Valor Christian’s Kaley Kakac scored one goal, but she and teammates Rachel Pallo and Eliza Osburn made a big difference in a Top 5 game against Cherry Creek on April 9.
Valor, ranked second in the CHSAANow.com state poll, put together a surge in the second half, defeating No. 3 Cherry Creek, 19-16 in a game played at the Valor Christian field.
The Eagles improved to 5-2 on the season while Creek suffered its second loss in six games.
Kakac, a junior midfielder, took all the draws for Valor and won a majority of them to help the Eagles keep possession of the ball.
“I felt like I did good on the draws and stepped up to try to help our team by getting the ball and getting possession,” said Kakac. “You have to work with your teammates in the circle and be able to communicate with them about what’s going on and getting the ball. On a draw you just try to push it (the ball) to yourself or push it to a teammate in the circle or get it to a spot where your team can get the ball.”
Kakac has a .681 draw percentage for the season and 112 draw controls in seven games.
Both Valor Christian coach Terry Ellis and Cherry Creek mentor Bailey Zerr Tremaroli felt Kakac and her midfield teammates played a key role in the outcome of the game.
“Our midfielders, Rachel Palllo, Eliza Osburn and Kaley Kakac turned it on the second half, and they knew if we had possession of the ball we’d have a good chance of winning,” Ellis said. “Draws are important especially at this level because there is no shot clock. So, whoever controls the draws can basically control the game. I give credit to those three because they are the main draw team. If they win the draw, we have possession and can score. It is the most important thing in lacrosse, having possession of the ball and winning draws.”
Tremaroli agreed
“I’m really proud of our girls,” the Creek coach said. “I thought we fought from the first whistle until the last whistle. Valor is a great team. “Draws are very important, and Valor is good at winning the draws. So that was a big challenge that we had to overcome. Sometimes we did it and sometimes we didn’t, and I think that’s probably what the game came to was their ability to control the draws.”
Junior Reagan Digby had five goals and two assists for seven points to pace the Eagles. Eliza Osburn had four goals and three assists for seven points. Courntey Kakac and Amanda Stevens also had four goals for Valor.
Molly Threlkeld and Lilly Assini each had three goals for the Bruins.