Moment: Birmingham Keeps Coming Back
May 19, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Eight times, Birmingham United’s girls lacrosse team had to come back against Hartland during the 2012 Division 1 Final.
Finally, with eight seconds to play in overtime, Kathy Quigley put Birmingham ahead to stay.
Quigley, then a junior, tied the score with her fourth goal of the game with 1:29 to play in the extra period. Then, with the final seconds ticking away, she sprinted across the front of the goal and fired the game winner.
The future University of Michigan midfielder scored five goals total June 9, 2012, and senior Sara Feiten also scored twice during overtime and four goals total for Birmingham. Feiten went on to play at Rollins College in Florida.
Watch below the game-tying and winning goals from Quigley from the MHSAA Network.
Moment: 'Back-to-Back Mek' Paces Rams
May 26, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Vander Molen sisters have been constants over Rockford’s record string of seven consecutive Division 1 girls lacrosse championships.
The 2016 Final was the last high school game for oldest sister Alexandra. And middle sister Mekenzie made sure her mentor finished her time with the Rams as a four-time champion.
Mekenzie Vander Molen found the net with 5:46 and 4:50 to play against Birmingham United to give Rockford its first lead as the Rams scored the game’s final four goals for a 12-9 title-clinching victory.
“It meant a lot for me to be on the same team as my sister for this last championship for her,” Mekenzie Vander Molen said that day. “I’ve learned almost everything from my older sister. I’ve learned how to take better shots, better passes, certain things in certain situations.
“She said, ‘You’ve played a very good game. I’m very proud of you.’”
While Alexandra was held to just one goal that day, Mekenzie scored three and youngest sister Karrington also scored once. All three eventually graduated as four-time champions.
Click for coverage of the 2016 championship game from Second Half and watch below for the Rams’ tying and go-ahead goals from the NFHS Network.