BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team beat rival Parkside, 5-4, last week in the season opener for both teams after building an early lead and holding off a late charge by the Rams.

The Seahawks got on the board early, scoring on goal by Eileen Hayman just 17 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead. About 10 minutes later, Ashley Trice scored a goal to make it 2-0. Decatur extended its lead to 3-0 on a goal by Sami Quilter with just over six minutes left, which is how the first half would end.

Decatur started the second half in much the same way as the first with a quick goal just a minute into the period to extend the lead to 4-0. Kayla Terlizzi found Alexis Martinek with a perfect assist and Martinek converted to put the Seahawks ahead, 4-0, but there was a lot of time left and Parkside was not ready to roll over.

After Parkside got on the board with its first goal to cut the lead to 4-1, the Seahawks responded with a goal by Payton VanKirk with just over 14 minutes left to push the lead back to four goals at 5-1. However, Parkside then mounted a courageous comeback attempt with three goals. The third goal in the sequence came with just about two minutes left in the game and pulled the Rams to within one at 5-4.

Parkside had multiple chances to tie the score in the final two minutes, but the Decatur defense and goalkeeper Skylar Snead repelled them each time. After halting the roaring comeback attempt by the Rams, the Seahawks held on for the 5-4 win over their Bayside South rivals in what was the first of at least two meetings between the teams this season. Decatur opened the season with Parkside at home and will close the regular season with a game against the Rams on May 3.