Freshman lifts Page in overtime; Harpeth Hall, Ravenwood repeat as girls lacrosse champs

While Ravenwood captured back-to-back Large School championships, Harpeth Hall made it a three-peat in the private school class of the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association championship games Saturday at Ensworth.

But it was Page's dramatic overtime win over Seymour that stole the show led by freshman Sadie Blackmon's four goals in a 11-10 victory in the Small School championship as lacrosse will move into a TSSAA sanctioned sport next school year.

Page freshman comes up clutch in OT

Blackmon's goal less than a minute into sudden-death overtime lifted Page to the program's first title. Blackmon was nearly at a loss for words trying to describe a historical moment in the team's nine-year history.

"We've practiced that play so much, and I just felt like we knew what to do in that moment," said Blackmon, who had Page's final two goals. "For me, I just prayed. I just asked for focus and if it was his will, it would go in. If not, we'd just keep working towards it."

Blackmon was still trying to process it 10 minutes after the game as she received repeated hugs from teammates, coaches and fans. Page led 2-1 after the first period, fell behind 5-2 to Seymour before rallying to tie it 5-5 just before halftime. Seymour led 8-5 in the third period and Page rallied, again, to take the lead on an Anna Hammer goal.

This time Seymour rallied from a 10-8 deficit in the fourth period to tie and send it into sudden death before Page (17-2) called on its freshman to save the day. Sarah Jane Johnston and Nola Gephart each had two goals.

"Both teams were great, but we've faced games like this before," Page coach Kelly Todd said. "We've come from behind in games and we knew how to respond (Saturday). That experience was big."

Ravenwood back atop Large School lacrosse world with third title

Despite the loss of six seniors from the 2023 lacrosse championship team, Ravenwood looked unbeatable again, jumping out to a 8-1 lead on Franklin and cruising to a 13-3 victory for its second straight crown.

In his 12th season, Lady Raptors coach Bill Dryer has been to four lacrosse championship games, winning his third Saturday. Ravenwood (20-5) also captured the title in 2019.

"As coaches, we just try our best to facilitate," Dryer said. "It's about putting these girls in the best positions to be successful and then let their talent shine. We give them the information, and they took that information and performed on the big stage."

Of the five teams that handed Ravenwood losses, two played for the private school title, another was Large School champ Brentwood and the others were teams from Florida and Georgia. Olivia Rewers led the way Saturday with five goals and two assists. Allie Fitch had a pair of goals and three assists, and Emma Gardzina had two goals.

"That kind of competition is what helped us get better as the season wore on," Dryer said.

History repeats itself with Harpeth Hall three-peat

The Honeybears' third consecutive title was the second straight against private school rival Ensworth. Harpeth Hall captured a 14-7 victory. And it was the second straight year that Harpeth Hall (21-2) did not lose a lacrosse match to an in-state school.

"Our seniors have been in the championship four times, so to win it three straight is tough," Bears coach Megan Clark said. "They have been leaders, trust each other and trust us as coaches and at the end of the day, what's fun, is that these girls love playing together."

Clark features three players who will play college lacrosse in Charlotte Myers (Darmouth), Liza Brown (Columbia), Taylor McCall (William & Mary). Myers, who had six goals in last year's championship, had four Saturday. McCall added three goals and an assist, while Mary Claire Smith had three goals and Brown finished with two.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Page girls win dramatic lacrosse title; Harpeth Hall, Ravenwood repeat