With new talent, new competition, and new standards, girls’ lacrosse is looking toward an exciting season.
The team ended the 2024 season with a regional champion title, a 10-4 record, and made it to the state quarterfinals, where they lost to Northern High School. “I think last year we had a really good season. We had some really hard competition during the quarterfinals, so it was just super unfortunate we lost, but I’m ready for this year. It’s my last year with the seniors, so I hope we win states,” junior Addison Purvis said.
The team’s first conference game was Mar. 21, where they played Churchill at home. While they came out with a 8-5 loss, it was a hard-fought game. “We have played St. Andrews in the past, and they are a really good team, but I think we’re going to give them a tough game. I also think Churchill is a good team, and they are our rivals, which makes the game even more fun and serious,” junior Danielle Rubin said prior to the Churchill game.
Returning players are looking forward to finishing their high school lacrosse careers with a state title. “As a returning player for girls’ lacrosse and returning as a senior, my goals are to push my team to have a good season and of course win states with them. I want my last season on this team to be the best, and I want us to go far,” senior Skylar Cohen said.
In the 2024 season, players earned county awards, like sophomore Emma King who made her debut as a freshman, where she led her team to a successful season. King returns for another year with a 50-career draw control achievement, a stat showing when she has gained possession of the ball after a draw, which restarts play after a goal or at the start of each half. King plans to continue to help her team start the season right. “I’d love to work as a midfielder and help defense and offense in any way I can. I’ll help defense work together and become unified and help offense score goals,” King said.
Coach Shannon Davis returns for her second year and emphasizes team bonding both on and off the field, knowing that the best teams are often the ones that play not just for themselves, but for each other. “Since we are defending a regional title, I have high expectations for this team. We are returning this season with most of our team intact and some great new editions,” Davis said.
A crucial factor that could determine success for this season is team chemistry. In a sport like lacrosse, communication and coordination are essential, along with the ability of players to work together. Strong team chemistry allows players to anticipate each other’s movements, execute plays with precision and maintain composure in high-pressure situations. “I think team chemistry has started strong this season since most of our players are upperclassmen and multi-sport athletes. Our team bonding is important as it guarantees we are all on the same page on and off the field,” junior Maya Bellamy said.
The team has a game versus Damascus on Mar. 25.
