They’reboth named Kaitlin. They both play lacrosse. They both go to Stone Ridge. That’s where the similarities end.
Kaitlin Duff is an elegant, skilled, speedster — “a gazelle,” according to her coach, Jill Marks. Kaitlin Keena is an aggressive, determined, worker bee — “a grinder,” says Marks.
Vive la difference.
Wednesday night at Good Counsel, the two Kaitlins were a perfect duo as they propelled the Gators to an 11-8 victory over the two-time defending champions from the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
While Duff was spinning, dodging and sprinting her way to five beautiful goals, Keena scrapped in the dirt for five less-than-aesthetic tallies. On the scoreboard, they all looked the same.
“That’s the beauty of having two players like them,” said Marks. “They play off each other so well. Between the two of them they do a lot of things for us.”
Duff, a senior who has committed to Virginia, steadied Stone Ridge (8-0) through a perilous first half, scoring twice in the final three minutes to earn the Gators a 4-4 tie. In the second half, after Good Counsel (7-2) took a 6-5 lead on a goal by Erica Baumgartner (four goals, two assists), Keena scored four of the goals in a 5-1 run that sealed the win.
The biggest goal came when Kenna stole a move from Duff’s repertoire as she lost a defender with a shoulder fake, drove inside the circle and fired a laser past Good Counsel goalie Elana Ponchione (six saves).
“Kaitlin is such a pretty player. She’s so much fun to watch,” said Kenna. “Me, I don’t know. I just throw myself in there if that’s what it takes.”
