Girls’ Lax Edges Out Choate 9-7
Last Saturday, the girls’ varsity lacrosse team played away against Choate Rosemary Hall. Big Red might have started the game off slow, but later on they played better and smarter, controlling the tide of the game, and they left Wallingford, Connecticut with a 9-7 victory. This win kicks off the season with a 1-0 record.
Following a three hour bus ride in a snow storm, the majority of the team started the day rough and had a hard time building its momentum. As a result, Exeter left room for Choate to set the pace of the game. Senior Kat Cucullo commented on the team’s mood prior to the game. “Choate’s really, really far away. It was also super, super cold so we all weren’t into it. Going into the game, we were a bit nervous as well because it was our first game.” Choate scored the first goal of the game within minutes which didn’t do much to help the situation, but in spite of this, Exeter’s mental fortitude held. “The first few minutes were rocky. We didn’t come out like we wanted too but after they scored we got into our groove,” lower Chandler Jean-Jacques said.
“It’s been so great seeing her, she hasn’t missed a beat and I think that’s great. I also think that that really inspires the team seeing someone who had gone through that.”
As the game drew on through the second half, Exeter had some minor setbacks here and there. The team’s defense had a number of unnecessary fouls that came as a result of uncontrolled checks or “being lazy.” On the offensive side of things, the only real issues were a few turnovers after the defense had done a good job. “I think we just have to calm down because we’re really fit and work really hard but run and forget about our stick skills sometimes.” Cucullo said.
Just like every year, the team boasts a large number of new recruits and players mixed in with returners; one challenge that stems from that is finding their rhythm and teamwork together. Senior Bella Edo voiced her thought on where the girls currently stand in doing this. “It was definitely an adjustment learning to play with everyone for the first ‘official’ time.”
During the game, two players in particular stood out. Co-captain Senior Kelsey Detels returned to the field, coming off a torn ACL injury. Edo praised Detels’ performance on Saturday in light of the injury. “It’s been so great seeing her, she hasn’t missed a beat and I think that’s great. I also think that that really inspires the team seeing someone who had gone through that.” In addition to Detels, Edo pointed out Jean-Jacques as another deserving player who has “grown so much in just one year.”
Edo went on to explain how the team might not be at its strongest point right now but still performed well, and so, it can only go up from here. The team hopes to continue the pace it set at Choate in its next game against Governors and then Thayer Academy on Saturday, Apr. 8.