Lakeland High School’s field hockey team defeated visiting Smithfield High School 3-2 in overtime on Friday, capping a week in which the Lady Cavs also logged a big 2-1 victory over Group 3A power and conference rival York High School.

Lady Cavaliers coach Cortney Parker was not sure if her girls were tired on Friday from playing York the day before, but regarding the Smithfield game she said, “I was pleased with the outcome, but not with our performance. We just were really flat.”

The Lady Packers field hockey program is young but up-and-coming, evidenced by its taking a 2-0 lead against Lakeland on Friday.

Smithfield got its first goal about five minutes into the game, and its second goal came with 18:03 remaining in the second half.

For the day, the Lady Cavaliers had 23 offensive penalty corners, while the Lady Packers had only five.

“We weren’t taking good shots,” Parker said.

About a minute after their second goal, the Lady Packers called a timeout, which gave Parker a golden opportunity to exhort her girls to step up their intensity.

They did, and with 14:52 to go in regulation, senior Stasha Waterfield scored, unassisted.

Then with 2:48 remaining, junior Lexis Munford scored with the assist coming from freshman Allison Thompson.

Two of Lakeland’s seniors brought about the game’s deciding goal with 8:54 left in overtime.

“Stasha shot it from outside the circle and Shannon (Leonard) just deflected it right in,” Parker said. “It was nice.”

On Thursday, the Lady Cavaliers traveled to York High School to take on the Lady Falcons, who are fast and feature good stick work, Parker noted.

But Lakeland proved better able to capitalize on its opportunities and never trailed.

“I feel like we played really well,” Parker said. “We held our own. We stayed with them, and it was a very evenly-matched game. They out-cornered us nine to five.”

Lakeland kept York at bay with effective defense.

“I had Deleah Scott in the goal, and she had seven saves,” Parker said, also praising senior Chaunsa Saunders and Allison Thompson for strong play at right back and center back, respectively.

On offense, the Lady Cavaliers shot wide of the goal a lot in the first half, and the game was scoreless at halftime, but they made the necessary adjustment in the second half.

Exactly one minute into the half, junior Kendall Lewis scored off an assist by junior Kaylene Thomas on a corner.

Leonard scored almost five minutes later, assisted by Waterfield on a corner.

The Lady Falcons scored with eight minutes left in the half.

“We had a bad 16-yard hit out, and they received it and came in and took a shot from the top that went in,” Parker said.

Though this was an error, Parker noted her players never let up against York, even with a 2-0 lead.

Lakeland (10-5) hosts Phoebus High School on Thursday, which will be Senior Night for the Lady Cavs.