BY JAYDEN JUNAID
The girls’ lacrosse team went undefeated to win the Red Division regular season with a record of 8-0. Standing at 12-2 overall, they have earned the top seed in the GMC Tournament.
While their impeccable season provided many highlights, many players cite the 11-6 win over North Brunswick on April 27 as their favorite moment. “After falling to them in our GMC final game last year, it feels good to come back and beat them this time,” said senior defender Gretchen Polst.
The win against North Brunswick proved special for many reasons, including the fact that it was Senior Night. “Not only did we come out with a huge win over North Brunswick, but with that win we secured first place in our division,” explained senior Jenna Scopellite, who has 31 goals and eight assists in the season. “We had a great show out for us seniors, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the love we felt that night.”
Although the team has thrived throughout the season so far, they have had to overcome some difficulties. “Our biggest challenge, I think, is transitioning the ball from the defensive end of the field to the offensive end,” explained senior Gabrielle Walker, who boasts 24 goals and 17 assists in the season. “When we play these good teams, it is very good to see how we do against their defenses.”
The team has faced off against top programs throughout the State while achieving a 6-2 out-of-division record. “We have faced some tougher opponents this year, but we accept the challenge, and, at the end of the day, those are the games that make us better,” Scopellite said.
Most recently, the team defeated Howell 16 –6 on May 9. “It felt good to beat a good team like Howell,” said junior goalie Gabriella Malanga, who has racked up 87 saves in 14 games in the net this season. “We started off to a slow start, but we got a talk from our coach and immediately switched the pace of the game, so it felt good.”
The team carries an impressive eight-game winning streak into today’s match up with Ocean Township, and the remain confident heading toward the post season. “Our biggest strength as a team would be our team chemistry,” divulged Polst, who has picked up seven groundballs this season. “We communicate while playing and have each other’s backs, always.”
Their stellar regular season has earned the team first and second round byes, so they will enter the post-season in the GMC Quarterfinals on Tuesday May 16. Heading into the game, the girls are feeling “super excited for the GMC tournament and ready to win it all and get redemption from last year,” shared junior Jessica Chin who has scored 24 goals and leads the team in assists with 18.
Come out and support the team today at 4pm at Geick and stay tuned for post-season updates in the coming weeks.
Posted on 5/11/23
Photos by Jayden Junaid and Emma SantaMaria
Knight Life 