Lakewood controlled possession for much of the night and pulled away after halftime, handing Buckeye a 12-4 loss Thursday in a girls varsity lacrosse game at Lakewood High School. Even in defeat, the Bucks showed resilience with a second-half push after dressing only 12 available players, including two dealing with soreness and illness.

Buckeye opened with one of its biggest moments early when Molly Danilovic broke through for the first goal of the match, giving the Bucks an immediate spark. Lakewood answered by controlling the draw and spending long stretches in the offensive end during the first half, but Buckeye’s defense and goalie play kept the game from getting out of hand. Avery Derringer handled the first-half work in goal and finished with 10 saves, repeatedly turning away shots as the Bucks fought to stay within reach.

The Bucks found more balance after halftime as they made adjustments and played more aggressively in the midfield. Reagan Kurilec, Derringer, Natalie Clark and Mya Galdun helped Buckeye gain more possession, while Bianka Peters and Hailey Baisden helped carry the ball into the offensive zone. Avery Derringer also made an impact outside the crease, providing defensive help and full-field runs that led to several free-position chances and shots.

Buckeye’s offense got a lift from Clark, who scored twice, and from Galdun, who added a goal of her own. Clark’s two-goal night came with a physical edge as she played through a stick to the nose. In the midfield, Clark, Galdun and Peters continued to press the action, and Peters and Galdun each collected seven ground balls. Senior captain Andreea Ghise anchored the defense while playing through hip pain and injury, underscoring the gritty effort Buckeye brought throughout the match.

Leah Droes took over in the second half and recorded 12 saves, giving Buckeye 22 total stops in goal between the two keepers. That work in the cage allowed the Bucks to stay competitive even as fatigue became a factor late. With limited numbers and Lakewood’s possession advantage wearing on the group, Buckeye still managed to rally for three second-half goals and continued to challenge in settled play and on loose balls.

Buckeye finished with goals from Danilovic, Galdun and Clark, who scored twice, in a performance that reflected the team’s competitiveness despite difficult circumstances. The final score favored Lakewood, but the Bucks’ second-half response, ground-ball work and strong save totals from Derringer and Droes offered clear bright spots as the team kept battling to the final whistle.