LACONIA – Despite the weather improving for the second Division III girls’ lacrosse semifinal in at Bank of New Hampshire Stadium in Laconia, seven unanswered goals by the top-seeded St. Thomas Saints to start the second half shut the door on Bow in a hard-fought, but very difficult, semifinal for the Falcons.

All in all, the No. 5 Falcons (14-4) fell 17-6 to the top-ranked Saints (16-1). Of those six goals, five were scored by graduating seniors and despite the adverse scoreline – they played the game their way until the end. Unfortunately for the Falcons, this will be the second year in a row that their girls’ lacrosse team loses 10 players to graduation, according to head coach Chris Raabe.

“Just being here, going through it, and the different emotions than the regular season,” Raabe said about her team’s playoff run. “And this is a great group of girls, you want it for nice kids, no drama. It was a great group to coach and I’m proud of them.”

Bow advanced to the semifinals after upsetting the No. 4 John Stark Generals in the quarterfinals, a game that the Falcons wanted since they lost to the Generals in the regular season.

The semifinal action started from the get-go, and although Bow managed a few decent shots, the Saints’ direct and quick defense was able to cut through the middle of the defense and score efficiently. Even though Bow missed two penalty shot opportunities in the first and went down 5-1, the game’s momentum shifted slightly away from the Saints. 

Throughout the season, Bow tended to start slow, and against the Saints, it found its rhythm toward the end of the second quarter. Yet, by the end of the second, it still trailed 9-4. Seniors Ella Gray, Kate McGovern and Kylie McKee were the three players responsible for those goals and were also leaders for the team.

“Wins and losses, good times, bad times, we’re here for each other, and we learn tough lessons,” Gray said. “But we’re still here for each other, either way. So it’s a tough loss tonight.”

“I’d say it’s more like a family than friends,” McKee added after the game. “These girls were like my sisters.”

Draw losses were a large contributing factor in Bow’s inability to come back, as many of the Saints’ goals came directly from quick attacks in transition when the Falcons’ defense was scrambling to fill gaps. 

Overall, the Falcons’ missed opportunities, whether in transition, passing or penalty shots, were opportunities that the Saints capitalized on. Despite a strong performance by sophomore goalie Gianna Trott with 15 saves, the Saints’ pace of play led to mismatches inside the circle that their attackers clinically finished.

“These are probably like my closest friends, I’ve played with them for many seasons. Just the friendship, the environment, the community, every single grade that comes in is just welcoming and amazing,” McGovern said when reflecting on her years playing for the Falcons.

Alexander Rapp can be reached at arapp@cmonitor.com