The Toll Gate girls lacrosse team held off a late push to beat crosstown rival Pilgrim 5-4 last week at Morry Field.

Each defense was strong throughout the contest, but the Titans managed to take a 5-1 lead early in the second half and was led by Delanie Wheeler, who scored twice in the second quarter in a span of 15 seconds.

Pilgrim got a third quarter goal from Taylor Mooney to make it 5-2 heading into the fourth, and Lyrah Lindman and Talulah Latorella each put away goals in the final two minutes of regulation to put the Titans on the ropes. Pilgrim was up a player and in the Toll Gate zone in the final 48 seconds, but Toll Gate freshman goalie Olivia Napolitano and the defense were able to hang tough and close out the win.

Tate Payne, Ayla Paley and Aubrey Rubeira also scored goals for Toll Gate in the win. Gracelynn Ferreira scored Pilgrim’s first goal in the opening quarter. 

Napolitano won the starting goalie job in the preseason and has been steady for Toll Gate in net, including last week. Napolitano is thankful for the chemistry that she has with the upperclassmen and has looked up to the veterans since she was younger.

“I was having a panic attack,” said Napolitano of the final minute. “I’ve been playing with these girls my whole life, they got me into the goalie position. I’ve gotten in my head a lot and having a team around me that supports me (is important). They helped me a lot tonight,” said Napolitano.

Wheeler added: “I’ve watched her grow up, grow into the woman she is and I’m so proud of her. I couldn’t ask for a better goalie.”

Toll Gate went on to beat Ponaganset 5-2 the following game and improved to 6-6 overall with the win. The Titans sit in sixth place in the Division III standings. Wheeler once again led the way with two goals while Rubeira, Paley and Madison Gautieri also scored.

The Titans are hoping to catch fire in the second half of the season and make a strong playoff push. The team has embraced the competition within the division, according to Napolitano. 

“We need to focus on the fundamentals. Passing, catching, setting picks. Just the fundamentals of lacrosse. We like that kind of pressure, it makes us work harder at practice. It makes it fun,” said Napolitano.

“We just need to hustle, work hard and go for it,” added Wheeler. “We need to work for it and want to win. We are learning, and we get into our heads as a team sometimes. We just need to talk things out and put it on the field. We calm each other down.”