NorCAL GIRLS: No. 24 Menlo Wins WBAL Championship in OT

Sensational senior middie Maggie Brown registered a team-high six points on five goals and one assist to lead No. 24 Menlo to a 16-14 overtime victory over Burlingame in the CIF-Central Coast Section WBAL championship game Saturday morning.

Brown, who finished the season with 112 goals, was a rock once again for the Knights (17-4), which won its second straight WBAL title, third straight conference title and sixth conference championship in the last seven years. Before the WBAL, Menlo used to dominate the PAL.

“This is one of the most compelling groups that I’ve had,” Menlo head coach Jen Lee said. “I think this was my best team. I can not be prouder of how we played today.”

Senior middie Mila Sheeline scored four goals, freshman middie Michaela Michael finished with four points on two goals and two assists and sophomore attack Sophie Sheeline added three goals for the Knights. Senior attack Deborah Wohl and sophomore middie Kacie Madeira each scored once to round out the offense.

In defeat, senior middie Rebecca Belding had a game-high nine points on four goals and five assists, and sophomore middie Charlotte Pratt added eight points on seven goals and one assist for Burlingame, which finished the season 13-6.

Menlo led 7-6 at halftime and the game was tied, 13-13 at the end of regulation. Menlo took a 15-14 lead after the first three minutes of non-sudden-death overtime, and Sophie Sheeline scored just 13 seconds into the second half of overtime to make it a two-goal game.

“We owned it,” Lee said. “We just dominated in overtime. It was exciting, but we just stayed very calm. I knew these kids could do it. Burlingame gave us a good run. It was a good challenge.”