The St. Mary High School girls’ lacrosse team actively pursues another goal in the second half against host Monson Friday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
MONSON – The St. Mary High School girls’ lacrosse players are not quitters, and they proved it Friday.
While some teams have often folded amidst hard times, St. Mary’s embraced heart, grit, and determination to fight through another tough game Friday. The Saints fell to the hands of the Mustangs in Monson, 22-11.
Jessie Egen (6 goals), Haley Richard (5 goals), and Maggie Mastroianni (4 goals) accounted for 15 of Monson’s 22 goals. Still, six Mustangs scored at least one each.
Lauren Chapdelaine (4 goals) and Andrea Watson (3 goals), and Aisling Smith (2 goals) provided the bulk of the St. Mary offense, while Taylor Marshall and Bella Butler chipped in with one apiece.
Despite the loss, St. Mary coach Dave Watson said he has seen marked improvement in his team since its inaugural varsity season a year ago. And the Saints have overcome injuries, illnesses, and a miniscule bench along the way.
“Our girls have an overall better understanding (of the game),” coach Watson said. “We have all right-handed players, but they’re beginning to play with both hands. And our goalie (Karissa Foley) has improved. She has come up with a lot of big saves.”
Watson said he will continue to run drills emphasizing the basics – catching, throwing, and using both hands – over the remainder of the season.
“We’re still a young team,” he said. “We’ve got four seniors. We have freshmen and sophomores who are already playing with both hands. In the long term, that is going to pay off dividends.”
