Emma Whoriskey powers Notre Dame girls’ lacrosse past Westford, into Division 1 championship game

WESTON — Sunday’s semifinal showdown followed the blueprint Westford Academy envisioned initially. But Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) adapted and proved it could win a gritty, defensive-minded battle.

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With last year’s [Division 2] semifinal loss to Reading as a motivator, NDA dug deep to outlast the Ghosts, 10-7, at Weston High and advance to the Division 1 girls’ lacrosse championship game.

Junior Emma Whoriskey (three goals) scored the winner with 4:57 remaining, then added another 24 seconds later to fuel the top-seeded Cougars (21-1).

“She’s come up huge,” NDA coach Meredith McGinnis said of Whoriskey. “She’s a goal scorer. She couldn’t necessarily find her footing in the first half, but I told her, ‘Shooters got to keep shooting. You’ve just got to shoot.’ She did that.”

Classmate Ani Woodard (three goals) delivered in the final minute to seal it.

Junior Kiley Carmichael and sophomore Grace Trahan paced the No. 4 Ghosts (17-5) with two goals apiece. Westford, which orchestrated a magical run to the final last spring, nearly did the same this year but fell just short despite a valiant effort.

“Westford girls don’t give up at all,” coach Julie Olivier said. “I was very proud of this team.”

The Cougars jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening seven minutes and held a 4-1 edge early in the second quarter.

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Westford responded with a five-goal flurry to pull ahead, 6-4, with 5:38 left in the half on a goal from Carmichael. NDA had an answer of its own, with deliveries from Anna Haggerty and Paige Foraste to tie it at 6 at halftime.

The Ghosts, who looked outmatched early, proved they were up for the challenge and weren’t intimidated. The Cougars, who withstood a major blow, proved they had the tenacity and toughness to punch back.

A strong defensive play from Sadie Lopez set up a Taylor Watts goal to give NDA a 7-6 edge through three. Mia Cullen tied it with 7:02 remaining, then Whoriskey provided some late-game magic as the Cougars won the possession battle when it mattered most.

NDA cruised past a shorthanded Westford team, 16-5, in early April. The rematch followed a much different script but ultimately yielded the same result.

“We had to block out the noise and play NDA lacrosse,” Whoriskey said. “In the third and fourth quarter, we started getting really stressed, but Meredith helps us stay composed. We know how to play our game. We’re just happy to pull out the win.”

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