Girls’ Lacrosse Snags Another Big Win Over Milton

On Wednesday, Apr. 15, the girls’ varsity lacrosse defeated Noble & Greenough School squad 9-7 on the home turf. The victory was the first time in a decade that Big Red girls’ lacrosse beat Noble & Greenough School. After Wednesday’s win, on Saturday, the athletes faced Milton Academy’s squad, who they defeated with a crippling score of 10-5, adding yet another victory to their record.

The first challenge the Milton game posed to the girls was the sudden transition into grass fields. Big Red’s girls play on a turf field typically as many others do, so switching all of a sudden to a grass field at the start of the game took some time to get used to.

“They weren't a great team, and unlike previous games, we didn't play down to their level which made a huge difference in the score. We've had some close games that shouldn't have been close, and even though it was close at some points, we got a big lead by the end.”

Still, the girls were determined to not let Milton have a home turf advantage. By keeping their minds focused on the game and the ball, the girls eased into the strange feel of the grass fields and managed to play a strong game from the very start. The girls were finding the open shots, intercepting fly balls and using their practiced tactics.

“We played well, especially in the first 15 minutes or so of the game. Our passes were stick to stick and our cuts were sharp,” lower Katherine Dumoulin said.

While occasionally the girls did fall into sloppy habits, most passes and shots were clean and precise. Most of all, the team was working together, each member playing a crucial part in getting the ball to the opponent’s net.

“Our passing was accurate and fast paced. We moved the ball great with each other on offense,” lower Hannah Gustafson said.

In past games, the team has struggled with the accuracy and speed of their shots, often missing clear and crucial opportunities. As a result, over the past few weeks, the team has been practicing their shooting, their quick splits and turns, to weave the ball into the net. Their hard work shone through in their game Saturday.

Gustafson attributed the improved shooting as a major contributor to their past two wins. “Our shooting improved a lot. We capitalized on much more of our chances than the first couple games, which led to us coming out of the week with two wins,” Gustafson said.

Everybody on the team contributed to the win at all times—those in the game and those not in the game. Teammates who were not playing in the game at a given time played a huge role in the team’s mental strength as the other team often played rough. Gustafson said, “People on the sidelines were great with cheering. It helped a lot to keep us going and from losing our cool, since it was a physical game.”

In several past games, the scores have not truly shown the comparison of each team’s ability because if one team played poorly, the other, believing that extra work beyond what was necessary would be strenuous or pointless, would not play their best, but rather at a lower level. In the game against Milton, however, the girls refused to accept this type of attitude. The Big Red team maintained a high level of performance from start to finish, no matter how the other team played.

“They weren't a great team, and unlike previous games, we didn't play down to their level which made a huge difference in the score. We've had some close games that shouldn't have been close, and even though it was close at some points, we got a big lead by the end,” Dumoulin said.

As always, the girls take away lessons from each game, win or lose. Reflecting upon the game, some believe the focus of should be on defense. Gustafson said, “Something I think we need to work on is when to slide when we are pressing on defense, and staying tight on our player when they are cutting for a clear or through the eight meter.”

Upcoming, the girls will be playing a double header this weekend, on Saturday against Marshwood High School and on Sunday against Loomis Chaffee School. Both will be home games, so come out and support the girls on their win streak.