Bernards girls lacrosse wins first Group II title

UNION - For the Bernards High School girls lacrosse team, Saturday's NJSIAA Group II title was a long time coming.

Bernards (20-3) won its first Group title in program history with a 15-5 victory over Haddonfield (18-3) and set a new school record for wins with 20. 

"It's the best feeling in the world," Bernards' Paige Petty said. "It's awesome, it's been our goal the whole season, we knew we could do it and we did it."

The Mountaineers have made great strides over the last two seasons. After falling to Summit in the sectional semifinals back in 2015, Bernards had a big seasons of first last year, advancing to the Somerset County Tournament final for the first time, along with winning its first North Group II title and advancing to its first Group II final. 

This year Bernards added two more firsts, its first Group II championship and its first Tournament of Champions appearance. 

"It feels awesome, well-deserved for everyone here," Bernards' Laurel McHale said. "We knew what the atmosphere was going to be like, we knew our way around, we were confident and relaxed coming in."

After falling to Rumson-Fair Haven 14-11 in last year's final, the Mountaineers were determined to make it back this year, and win it. 

"In the back of our minds it was there every game, we knew we wanted to get back here," Petty said. "As a team we're just we love each other and we're family and we work hard every practice to make this happen." 

That grit and determination showed in the first half as Bernards scored seven straight goals to take a 7-0 lead with 4:37 left. McHale led the charge with four goals and two assists in the first 25 minutes, and the Mountaineers led 7-1 at halftime, having outshot the Bulldogs 12-4. 

"On attack we were all just clicking, working off each other and just getting it back in the net," Petty said. 

In the second half Haddonfield started to find its footing, scoring two quick goals in the span of about a minute to climb to within 7-3, but Bernards quickly overcame its lapse and answered with two goals of its own for a 9-3 lead with 15:40 left. 

The Mountaineers outscored the Bulldogs 6-2 the rest of the way for the 15-5 final. 

"I think it shows how hard working we are," McHale said of the win. "We've been playing together for so long, fall, winter and now spring, and I just think our hard work has really paid off and this shows it." 

McHale finished with five goals and three assists, including her 100th career goal, which she scored with 7:16 left in the first half to give Bernards a 6-0 lead. Paige Petty scored four goals and Hanna Christian recorded a hat trick. Annie Thomas and Elise Cohan each added one goal and one assist. Ann Gillis also scored. 

Goalies Charlotte Grimm and Anna Tamke combined for five saves. 

"It's really been special," Petty said of Bernards' season this year. "We knew we were really good last year but we knew we could do better this year, and we all just came together and made it happen."

Bernards will continue its season in the Tournament of Champions, which will start on Wednesday. 

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego