Sweet Home not playing as a unit
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home coach Katie Tutak knows her girls lacrosse team is talented. It's taking that talent and using it to play as a team that has been the challenge this season.

"We have a large number of individual talents, but we have to put it together," said Tutak.

Sweet Home is 2-4, but the team's recent 8-6 defeat to West Seneca West on Wednesday, April 25, was a direct result of the Lady Panthers playing as individuals, not as a team, especially in the second half. Sweet Home led 5-3 at halftime.

"In the second half, we had a lot of mental breakdowns and critical defensive errors," said Tutak.

Caitlin Colkitt, who leads all Sweet Home players with 15 goals, scored three times against West Seneca West. Marisa Kelly, Liz Link and Brook Nieman each scored once.

Tutak didn't see the West Seneca West loss coming as her team easily defeated West Seneca East two days earlier, 11-5.

"We played as a team and were catching passes," said Tutak. "We had a lot of intensity. (Against West Seneca West), it seemed like we were not connecting our passes and not grabbing ground balls."

Kati Baird, Colkitt and Kelly each scored two goals. Jessica Louttit, Katie Mazuchowski, Leann Stiver, Chrissy Strom and Marijke VanLeeuwen each scored once. Kelly also scooped up six ground balls. Goalie Danielle Holloway made 10 saves on 15 shots.

VanLeeuwen led a depleted Sweet Home roster with two goals against Niagara-Wheatfield. Nine players were in Boston, Mass. with the school's orchestra.

Colkitt scored two goals against Hamburg. Holloway made nine saves in the second half.

"We weren't concentrating on our passing," said Tutak. "We're excited to play them again."

Sweet Home hosts Hamburg at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2. The Lady Panthers play at Williamsville North on Thursday, May 3 and host Iroquois on Friday, May 4. Both are 4:30 p.m. starts. They played at Lake Shore on Monday, April 30 , but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

"The girls are working really hard," said Tutak. "We're still set on reaching our goals (.500 record and doing well in playoffs)."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com