GUYTON, Ga. – The third quarter went from bad to worse for Effingham County’s girls lacrosse team Thursday afternoon.
Host South Effingham wiped out a three-goal deficit and, with about five seconds left in the quarter, Sydney Minshall connected on a 60-yard pass to Abbey Jordan – maybe a lacrosse version of a football Hail Mary – and Jordan scored at the buzzer to give the Mustangs their first lead.
ECHS senior midfielder Gracie LaFleur didn’t think the momentum swing was a problem.
“It wasn’t too deflating because I know we’re a team that can bounce back from stuff like that,” LaFleur said. “I wasn’t too worried.”
And the resilient Rebels bounced back twice to tie in the fourth quarter before LaFleur notched the game-winner with 1:31 left for a 10-9 victory.
It was ECHS’ seventh straight win in the cross-county rivalry and gave the Rebels an 11-1 edge since the schools began fielding girls lacrosse teams in 2020.
Mustangs surge in third quarter
The Mustangs were overwhelmed in 9-2 and 20-10 losses to ECHS last season, but faced the rebuilding Rebels, who entered this year’s game with an 0-10 record.
“We lost half of our (2025) team, but we’re learning day by day. I’m proud of this team,” LaFleur said.
Goalie Carlee Fleming registered 18 saves, and LaFleur finished with six goals to lead the way.
“This was one of Carlee’s best games in her career. If it wasn’t for her, that scoreboard would have looked a lot different,” ECHS coach Alison Lawson said.
About LaFleur, Lawson added, “We’ve relied on her all season.”
South outshot the Rebels 30-22 and rode big performances from Abbey Jordan (five goals) and Sydney Minshall (four goals).
Jordan had three goals in the third quarter, including the buzzer-beating score to put the Mustangs ahead 8-7 after corralling Minshall’s heads-up pass.
“The team practiced hard this week and we have some tough girls, but this team needs more aggressiveness,” SEHS coach Analynn Bringer said.
Rebels respond in final quarter
LaFleur scored twice in the first quarter and three times in the second quarter, and Jacey Webb scored twice to stake the Rebels to a 7-4 halftime lead.
But with LaFleur in the penalty box, Jordan netted two goals within 18 seconds early in the third quarter to close the gap to 7-6. Minshall tied the game with four minutes remaining in the quarter, and the two teamed up for what could have been the backbreaking goal.
ECHS freshman attacker Kennedy Conaway tied the game with 9:29 left. Jordan put the Mustangs back in front 9-8 with a goal at 8:53.
Michaela Gordy knotted the game by bouncing a penalty shot into the goal with 2:57 left before LaFleur broke the deadlock for good.
Timeout sparks composure
“In the third quarter, we called a timeout, and our conversation was, ‘We’re making careless mistakes. We’re smarter than that, and we have to act that way,’” Lawson said. “It was a matter of reminding them you’re smarter than the way you’re playing right now. I think they took that to heart.”
