Apuzzo's hat trick leads Team Wood to victory over Team Cummings

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2021 / Credit: Kait Devir
Ellie Kinney
Aug 14, 2021
Lacrosse,Story

Team Wood and Team Cummings faced off for the second game of the day, which started early at 2:15 p.m. to avoid the chance of late afternoon storms. It was a wild game, with 2-point goals, a possible SportsCenter Top Ten play from Nicole Levy and a crazy final two minutes.

Here are the highlights from Team Wood vs. Team Cummings:

Less than a minute into the game, Caylee Waters made an outstanding save for Team Cummings.


Sam Apuzzo started the offense with a goal for Team Wood, putting the team in orange up 1-0.

Mollie Stevens quickly answered with a goal of her own off a great pass from Levy. Lindsey Ronbeck then scored for Team Wood, taking back the lead.

Taylor Cummings tried to find the back of the net, but her teammate Levy picked up the rebound and buried it to tie the game.

Right as the shot clock was expiring, Michelle Tumolo fired a shot almost from the midfield line that found the back of the net. It was initially ruled a no-goal, but was overturned and counted as a very long 2-pointer.

With just over 20 seconds left in the quarter, Tumolo found Aust streaking inside for the score, putting Team Wood up 5-2.

To start the second quarter, Haley Warden used a one-on-one matchup to her advantage and put the ball past Waters to lift Team Wood’s lead to four.

Cummings finally got things going for her team late in the second quarter, firing a rocket off an excellent pass from Katrina Dowd to put the blue team within three.

With under a minute left, Apuzzo drew Waters off her line, scoring an empty-net goal off the rebound.

Team Wood led 7-3 as the first half came to a close.

To kick off the second half, Levy scored her second goal of the game off a slick behind-the-back shot after a convincing fake.

Shortly after, Marie McCool got an 8-meter free position shot and didn’t let the opportunity pass. She rifled a shot past Hicklen, putting Team Cummings within two. Continuing their run, McCool made a pass that ended up finding the back of the net as a 2-point goal.

Tumolo stopped Team Cummings’ run with her second goal of the day, spinning around the goal for the roll dodge score.

Warden quickly added to Team Wood’s lead with a rocket past Amber Hill for her second goal of the game, putting Team Wood up 9-7.

Making it three unanswered goals for Team Wood, Tumolo found Apuzzo cutting in to put the orange team up 10-7 at the end of the third quarter. This goal was Apuzzo’s 21st of the season, and her third of the game for the hat trick.

To start the fourth quarter, both goalies made incredible saves. Angie Benson made a stop on an 8-meter free position shot, and Waters matched it on the other side with a strong save of her own.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Kelly McPartland gave Team Cummings hope with a goal to put her team within 2.

Taryn Vanthof earned a yellow card near the end of the game, giving Team Cummings a player-up advantage and an opportunity to come back. With under a minute left, Kylie Ohlmiller put one into the back of the net off the rebound, but it was called back.

Benson gambled as time was running out by taking the ball down the field herself, but she left the goal open and gave Team Cummings an opportunity to tie it on a 2-point goal. However, they were not able to turn that chance into a goal and Team Wood won the game 10-8.

Tumolo earned 186 points and was named MVP 1. Cummings gathered 116 points and was voted MVP 2. Apuzzo earned 146 points and was named MVP 3.

Related Articles

Sam Apuzzo
Lacrosse

Recap: Apuzzo records hat trick in 8-5 victory

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2022 / Credit: Mary Kate Ridgway

Softball

The Top 5 Aliyah Andrews plays

Aliyah Andrews © Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2021 / Credit: Jenny Jeffries

Cassidy Lichtman

Cassidy Lichtman named to Adweek's Most Powerful Women In Sports

Cassidy Lichtman © Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2021 / Credit: Jade Hewitt Media

Aury Cruz takes notes during the draft.
Volleyball

Jordan Larson selected as first No. 1 pick in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2021 / Credit: Jade Hewitt Media