By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
WOODBURY HEIGHTS — Although it may have been Senior Night for the Gateway Regional High girls lacrosse team, it was the underclassmen who truly shined on Monday night.
Sister duo Isabella and Angelina Fini accounted for five of the Gators’ 12 goals, while Lindsey Baxter led both teams with five of her own in Gateway’s thrilling 12-11 win over Millville.
Baxter normally steps up when her team needs her the most — and that was never more evident than on Monday night. In an always emotional game sending off your seniors, the junior also led the team in draw controls with six.
When asked about her performance, Baxter simply replied that she “did it for the seniors.” With Gateway only losing four seniors next month, she is optimistic about her upcoming senior year. “I’m hoping to have a better, winning season, ” she said. “More stats all around while working together better.”
“Lindsey always steps up when we need her to, and it’s not just with goals,” coach Ariel Lee said. “It’s setting other people up, it’s her assists. She wins more than half the draws every game. She gains that possession and establishes that momentum. This was so big for us and a special win for the seniors.”
Isabella Fini, a junior, tallied three goals, while Angelia Fini, a freshman netted two — including the game-winning shot with less than two minutes left in regulation.
“We worked really well together tonight,” Angelia Fini said. “I scored the game-winning goal and it felt really good. Everybody just had high energy, we all worked together, and it was a really good game.”
In her very first year playing lacrosse, Angelia has seven goals and two assists. Only in her second year of action, Isabella is already chasing the 100-career-goals milestone. She has 78 career tallies, including 44 this season.
“I played softball my freshman year, and last year was my first year ever playing lacrosse,” she said. “I’m at 78 career goals. Hopefully in the beginning of next season I’ll hit 100. (goals) It feels good to play on the field together (with Angelia). We don’t play any other sports with each other. It feels great to work together on the field and assist the connection.”
Said coach Lee of the sisters: “Bella has always been such a solid player for us. She’s an athlete. She knows how to post up. Angie is a first-year player and she’s really stepped up for us. She had the game-winning goal, and I’ve seen her confidence just skyrocket, and that’s what we need. I think a lot of our older players take the younger ones under their wings. I know Bella is making the looks for Angie, and she’s there in the background helping her out.”
With several impactful underclassmen, the Gators seem to be in good hands for the foreseeable future. With a fully healthy squad, their potential is limitless. After a sluggish middle of the season, Gateway has won four of its last five games, scoring at least 12 goals in all of those contests, including the one loss, to Collingswood.
“Only graduating four, we’ll bring back a lot of people,” coach Lee said. “We’re missing key players from last year. We have two ACL tears that were varsity starters, and they’ll be back next year. I have high hopes (for next season).”
WHAT’S NEXT: Gateway (7-7; 4-4 in SJILL Liberty) travels to Moorestown Friends (4-7; 3-2 in BCSL Patriot) on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. Millville (5-10, 5-6 Cape-Atlantic National) hosts Absegami today at 4 p.m.
