BY ANALISE SAINVIL
With a 12-2 record and a roster full of rising stars, the girls lacrosse team continues to dominate the GMC Red Division with another regular season championship. This year, the team aims even higher, turning their focus from county to statewide recognition.
Girls lacrosse claimed the GMC Red Division once again, claiming their fifth straight regular season title, a perfect streak since the GMC split into divisions. “This is something we work hard for,” said Madison Cancela, who has scored 14 goals this season. “It feels amazing seeing our effort pay off and continuing this tradition.”
Even with fierce competition across the State, the team has stayed locked in. This season, they have shifted from chasing county titles to evaluating themselves against top programs statewide. “That game against Westfield showed us how to push past our limits,” shared sophomore standout Reagan Connolly, /who leads the team with 41 goals. “We had to elevate everything: pace, intensity, execution.”
Underclassmen, like Connolly, who recently scored her 100th goal, and Adrienne Cabrera, power the offense. Together, they have set the tone early in games and kept the team competitive at every level. “It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come,” said Cabrera. “Everyone is more focused, and we’re always building off each other.”
For Cabrera, reaching a milestone like 100 goals didn’t happen overnight. “It feels very rewarding hitting over 100 goals because I have worked very hard in the offseason and during the season on my shooting,” said Cabrera. “Overall, it is very exciting.”
Players like Cancela and Kristen Shivprasad believe the team’s success starts with how they treat one another. Whether in practice, competing, or spending time off the field, the players have built trust. “We push each other but also have each other’s backs,” said Shivprasad, who has 17 assists this season. “We don’t let each other fall.”
Communication, both on and off the field, has kept the group sharp through high-pressure matchups. From intense practices to leadership from seniors, every player has stepped up when it mattered most. “We’ve had people filling roles, adjusting positions doing whatever’s needed,” said Cabrera. “That flexibility is what makes us strong.”
Sophomore Addison Albrecht said that the Westfield game, though a loss, served as an opportunity for growth. “Facing a top-tier team like Westfield was difficult, “but we adjusted well by adapting our strategy and staying focused on our strengths,” said Albrecht, who leads the team with 22 assists.
The girls used the loss to Westfield, the number one team in the State, to identify areas for improvement, from defensive pressure to ball control under pressure. “That game taught us what we still need to work on if we want to compete with the best,” said Cancela.
As the team faces stiffer competition with their out of conference portion of the schedule, the goal remains the same: win. “It’s not just about winning the GMC anymore,” said Guzman. “It’s about showing we can go further.”
With tough matchups like Westfield, Scotch Plains- Fanwood, Ocean Township, and Red Bank Regional, Reagan Connolly believes the team has prepared for the NJSIAA Tournament. “The tough matchups are giving us a preview of what is to come,” said Connolly. “We’re learning how to play under pressure and adapting our strategy. It’s definitely helping us get ready for the competition we’ll face at states.”
As the team heads into the post-season, the girls continue to draw on everything they have built this year—chemistry, effort, and heart. “There’s a lot of pressure on us, but I know we will work as hard as we can,” said senior Aly Chan.
Photos by Elisa Qoku
Posted on 5/9/25
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