Every spring, a familiar tension rises in the Council Rock community. A town united in its love of youth sports finds itself divided as players graduate to high school and join either North or South. In no sport is this split more dramatic—or more emotional—than in girls lacrosse. For a decade, South has ruled the turf, their dominance etched into every stat line and scoreboard. That is, until last season, when North finally broke through with an overtime win that sent shockwaves through the rivalry.

This year’s showdown, played under clear skies and electric anticipation, was set to be nothing short of epic. And it delivered.

The game opened in classic South fashion—with star midfielder Camryn Brundage seizing control of the draw and charging downfield. With confidence and power, Brundage ripped the game’s first goal into the back of the net, setting an early tone for South. But her duel at the draw circle with North’s Ellie Carney would become one of the defining matchups of the day.

Carney responded by winning the next draw, igniting a North possession. A quick strike from North attacker Gabby Mann was stopped by South’s freshman phenom in net, Gabby Terekhov, who turned away 17 shots in a gutsy performance under pressure.

South’s Mia Geneles added another goal to stretch the lead to 2–0 by the end of the first quarter. That lead would grow to 5–0 early in the second, as South seemed poised to run away with it.

But North flipped a switch.

It began with Gabby Mann, whose uncanny vision and pinpoint passing sparked a furious rally. She dished assists to Catherine McBride and Carney, then McBride found Carney again and fed a perfect pass to Addison Deppi for another. Suddenly, South’s commanding lead had shrunk to a precarious 5–4 at halftime.

The third quarter began as the second ended: with Mann threading the needle to Carney to tie the game at 5. South regained the lead behind a strong finish from #21 Kelly Longmore, but North kept coming. Mann found Olivia Esposito—“Espo” to her teammates—who buried the equalizer. The teams traded goals as the quarter wore on, with Brundage blasting another into the upper corner to give South a narrow 9–8 edge heading into the fourth.

McBride knotted it up again with a dodge and finish that had the North crowd on its feet. South answered with goals from Geneles and senior Liz Hearn, playing through a nagging leg injury to make her presence felt in the clutch.

Time was slipping away for North, but Carney took over at the draw circle, winning crucial possessions and feeding her team’s comeback. The ball found Mann—the Queen of Assists—who set up Esposito, then McBride again, to tie the game 11–11 and send it to overtime.

Both overtimes were heart-stoppers.

In the first, Esposito danced around the crease and fired a shot that rang off the post with seconds left. In the second, South’s Liz Hearn made a dazzling move and fired a rocket that hit the opposite pipe. It was as if fate demanded one last twist.

And it came with just 20 seconds remaining.

North cleared the ball, and once again it was Mann at the helm, finding McBride behind the net at “X.” With poise and grit, McBride rolled the crease and snuck the ball past the outstretched stick of Terekhov for the game-winner.

The North sideline erupted. Players stormed the field in a blur of navy and white, mobbing McBride in celebration. For the second straight year, the ROCK—and the bragging rights—belonged to the North.

Final score: North 12, South 11 (2OT).

In a rivalry that defines a town split in two, it was unity, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart that carried the day. Until next year, Council Rock.

Cat McBride 5 goals, 2 assists 3 gb 5 dc 2 fto
Ellie Carney 3 goals 1 gb 5 dc
Olivia Esposito 2 goals 2 GB
Addison Deppi 2 goals 1 gb
Gabbie Mann 7 assists 2 gb