Lucy Rogers, Ava Wilde hitting milestones while leading Algonquin girls lacrosse into tourney

NORTHBOROUGH — Prior to last spring, one girls lacrosse program out west had been a thorn in the collective side for Algonquin.

Minnechaug, the regional school for Wilbraham and Hampden about an hour's drive away from Northborough, simply had Algonquin's number. Until last year, that is. A 7-6 victory over the Falcons on May 22, 2021, snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Titans.

"Last season, it was last year's seniors' first time that they have ever beaten Minnechaug," Algonquin coach Emily Davis said. "I think it was great to see this crew beat them (again)."

On Tuesday in Northborough, thanks to the play of senior Lucy Rogers and junior Ava Wilde, Algonquin once again defeated Minnechaug, 11-5.

"It definitely felt really good," senior captain Lucy Rogers said. "I know we played them my freshman year and they knocked us out of the playoffs in the Central/West semifinal so it was good to beat them and to get the win."

In 2019, Minnechaug did defeat Algonquin in the Division 1 Central/West semifinals, 13-4. The year prior, before any current Titans were on the roster, the Falcons ousted Algonquin in the state quarterfinals, 11-9.

Davis knows that wins over such a perennial power don't come without players like Rogers and Wilde.

"They are both very important to the team," Davis said. "We've switched Ava from our midfield line to our attack line and I think (it's great) just having her there as a constant to keep our attackers ready to go."

That switch has paid dividends for Wilde as the junior has scored 41 goals to go along with 35 assists (76 points) this spring. Tuesday afternoon, Wilde scored three goals with four assists.

"She's been having some great feeds," Davis said. "So not only is she scoring but she is also helping other kids score."

It is a continuation of what Wilde has been doing since donning the maroon and gold. Back on April 25, Wilde reached a significant milestone when she recorded her 100th career point in a 19-6 win over Medway.

"It's definitely fun to get that milestone," Wilde said. "But it is definitely still a team effort."

Meanwhile Rogers, who scored six goals against the Falcons, reached a big milestone of her own recently. In a 10-8 loss to Dover-Sherborn on May 7, Rogers notched her 200th career point.

"It meant a lot," said Rogers, who is committed to play lacrosse at Division III Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "But I really couldn't have done it without my teammates. It was really a team effort, but it felt really good."

This season, Rogers has scored 72 goals with 11 assists (83 points). For her career, Rogers has recorded 182 goals and 43 assists (225 points).

"Lucy, she is just all over the field," Davis said. "I'm just excited for the rest of the three weeks of the season that we have left and to see how far we can go with them."

With two games left in the regular season and Rogers five goals a game, she has a chance to score 200 career goals depending on how deep in the statewide playoffs the Titans advance. Algonquin is currently ranked No. 21 in the MIAA Div. 1 power rankings and if the season were to end today, would play No. 14 Natick in the first round.

But right now, the Titans are taking it one game at a time.

Whenever this season ends for the Titans, with 90 career goals and 54 career assists (144 career points) Wilde is hoping to join Rogers in the 200-point club next season as a senior.

"I hope so," Wilde said.

Said Rogers, "Oh, she definitely will."

Ethan Winter is a senior multimedia sports journalist at the Daily News. He can be reached at ewinter@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @EWints.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Algonquin girls lacrosse drops Minnechaug thanks to Lucy Rogers and Ava Wilde