Girls’ Lacrosse Fresh from Florida Training Session
After a successful 2015 season, where the girls’ varsity lacrosse team finished with a 7-7-2 record, the team is eager to get back on the field. During the offseason, Exeter put in some hard training, and the team’s members are hoping to improve as a cohesive unit for their upcoming season.
When analyzing the games that the team lost last season, it consistently came down to close, high-pressure situations where the team failed to finish their chances. Co-captain and senior Bronwyn Shields attributes these losses to a lack of offensive confidence.
“Last year, we seemed to play a game of hot potato. This year, one of our goals involves a lot of confidence-building, especially among our attackers. The hope is that any one of our players, no matter their age or experience level, will feel confident enough to take the ball to the goal at any time during the game when we need them to,” Shields said.
“Florida was a bonding experience that allowed us to begin understanding each other not only as people, but also as players, and that’s crucial to the success of our team moving onwards.”
Big Red spent the majority of their spring breaks down in Florida, where they worked on touching up their stick skills as well as establishing a good team dynamic. Senior Josie Russ, the other co-captain, described the team’s trip to Florida.
“The trip to Florida was a great experience. We bonded as a whole lacrosse program on the field as well as at Universal. It was also a great chance for everyone—new and returning—to see the field and polish up their playing during our scrimmages before the season started,” Russ said.
Prep Bella Hillman also talked about her experience in Florida, elaborating on the encouraging dynamic she felt. “In Florida, I felt an overwhelming amount of support from the players every practice or game. It was great to have guidance from the older girls, as well as to learn from them just by seeing them play,” Hillman said.
Hillman went on to explain that the team’s supportive dynamic as well as each individual’s determination and willingness to improve served as an indication of the team’s destined success.
When the team wasn’t playing lacrosse, its members spent their time bonding and getting to know each other better. Shields elaborated on a specific moment and said, “I enjoyed the trip the most when I really got to bond with my roommates.
At the end of the trip, each room performed a skit. “This year, my roommates and I had a rap battle with another room. We made up lyrics about the other girls on the trip and the coaches. It was quite hilarious,” Shields said.
The girls’ varsity lacrosse team hopes to continue getting to know one another and developing as a team. Lower Michaela McCarthy stressed the importance of understanding one another on and off the field.
“Florida was a bonding experience that allowed us to begin understanding each other not only as people, but also as players, and that’s crucial to the success of our team moving onwards,” McCarthy explained.
Exeter will face St. Mark’s School on Friday and Choate on Saturday, hoping to add a few wins to their weird. “Last season has and will continue to serve as our motivation for this season,” McCarthy said.