photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Rylee Williams battles for the ball in a 3-2 win against Shawnee Heights at Lawrence on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

The Lawrence girls had a frantic start to the game and struggled to settle in offensively against Shawnee Heights before rallying to a 3-2 comeback win Tuesday.

Coach Joe Comparato said the team is still getting used to the speed it has in its top line, and that led to several opportunities getting away from them.

“We were a little too amped,” Comparato said. “We were passing the ball real crazy. We have dangerous players at the top and we’re not used to finding them. We just have to give the ball to our playmakers. We did exactly that when we got the goals.”

The Thunderbirds didn’t have the same issue, as they scored twice in the opening half. One goal came about in the 17th minute and the other in the 37th minute. At halftime, Comparato told his team to settle down.

Less than two minutes into the second half, junior Stella Comparato scored on a penalty kick. Sixteen minutes later, the Lions tied the game on a through ball which junior Sidra Besson scored on with an assist from her twin sister Ginny Besson. Joe Comparato said they have a little bit of a “twin telepathy” on the field together.

A lack of hydration proved to be almost as big an obstacle for the Lions as the Thunderbirds. Seven Lawrence players had to get subbed out with cramping, which Stella Comparato and junior Erin Derby said has never been an issue before and was the most they’ve seen.

“We need to get some team pickle juice and some electrolytes to help solve that,” Stella Comparato said.

The Lions scored their game-winning goal with seven minutes on the clock on a goal from junior Ellorie Severin. Again, the Lions were able to utilize their speed at the top to get the goal.

“Ellorie is one of those girls who has been on varsity since she was a freshman, so when she saw that opportunity up there, she wasn’t afraid of taking the shot,” Joe Comparato said.

Once the Lions settled in, they could better counter the Thunderbirds, preventing them from controlling the game. Coach Comparato is big on possession, and the Lions were able to do that better in the second half and set the pace.

The Lions held off the Thunderbirds in the final minutes and slowed the pace down. A few good saves from sophomore goalkeeper Emerson Sloop secured the win for Lawrence.

The Lions will be on the road in their next two games. They take on Topeka on Friday and DeSoto on Tuesday, both at 6:15 p.m. The first Sunflower League game will be at home on April 3, at 7 p.m. against Olathe North.

“We’ve got a long, tough schedule, and we’ve got a lot to work on,” Joe Comparato said. “But I like the intensity that this team has, and they’re good people.”