National HS Girls' Notebook: GCC on the Rise
by Jeff Seidel | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
Jeff Seidel covers high school lacrosse for Lacrosse Magazine Online. Check back each week for his regional breakdown of what's what around nation. Submit notes or story ideas to jseid1234@aol.com.
MID-ATLANTIC
Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.) had its first winning season last year, and the Centurions are on the one to another one this spring. They’ve got balance and talent, and that’s a big recent the Centurions have gotten off to a strong 5-3 start this season.
In fact, the number of good players on this year’s team has given coach Bill Domiano a nice problem that many coaches would enjoy dealing with.
“I actually find it difficult shuffling the subbing during a game, because I know that I have quite a few people on the sidelines that can produce on the field when they get their chances,” he said.
Maura Maher leads the way on offense with 45 points. The senior has 38 goals and seven assists. She was a second-team all-section player last year after a 69-goal season.
Abigail Ringling (21 points) and Hillary Weaver (19 points) follow. Ringling is a versatile player who’s played every position for the team in her three years and has 16 goals and five assists. Weaver’s got 16 goals and three helpers.
The Centurions also have gotten good help from defensive wing Samantha Chroney. She’s been strong in the midfield as a fourth-year starter.
Goalie Katlyn Latimer played a big role in the team getting that first winning season last year and has been solid again this year with a 9.3 goals against average.
Right now, the Centurions are going to hope for some better luck at home. They’re 3-0 on the road, but just 2-3 on their own field, but they’ve got the depth to make some noise.
“Depth is definitely a key to winning games at the varsity level,” Domiano said. “When you're practicing against players that know how to play the game, it can only make you perform better on the game field."
MIDWEST
The Stow Munroe Falls (Ohio) girls have jumped out to a 4-0 start this season, thanks to the strong play of an experienced team.
Coach Lindy Stoner’s team has relied also on the strong play of the defense, a big reason that goalie Erin Wright keeps playing well. Wright made a big save late in the recent game against Western Reserve Acadmey as the Bulldogs hung on for a 10-9 victory.
That came right after a 14-13 victory over
Green, the team that knocked them out of the
tournament last season.
"We’re playing good solid defense now, so teams are having
trouble getting into the [arc],” said Stoner. “Defense
is the key.”
Stoner also credited the strong play of seniors Lizzie Song (the team’s leading scorer), Karlie Jones and Ellie Swanger for helping the team, especially on offense, which is doing a good job complementing the already-stingy defense.
WEST
Lakeridge topped St. Mary’s, 14-11, last week in a battle of two of the top teams in the Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association.
Allie DeBruhl led the winners with six goals, according to WestSideLax.com. Meghan Jordan helped with two goals and one assist, and Sarah Seals (one goal, two assists) also notched three points.
The victory improved Lakeridge to 8-1 on the season.
St. Mary’s rallied later after trailing by six, but couldn’t catch the Pacers and are is now 7-2 this season.
SOUTH
The Georgia High School Association will be making adjustments to the various areas and using a new championship division due the growth in popularity of the sport in the state.
The GHSA reported on its Web site that there’s going to be lacrosse championships for girls (and boys) in schools in class 5A, plus those in Class 4A to Class A.
Each division that has a championship is going to have four areas, with the top four teams in each getting to the playoffs. There will be four rounds in the playoffs, with championships set for May 14 and 15.
NORTHEAST
Mary-Lynne McGee made the Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Lacrosse Hall of Fame after winning 226 victories at Suffern, according to TimesUnion.com. She hadn’t coached in a school in over 10 years but came back this season at Shaker High.
McGee worked with several of her current players as a club coach, found the high school sidelines again and hasn’t lost her touch, as Shaker has won its first three games.
Shaker rolled to an 18-9 victory over Colonie last week.
“To come through [in tough games] as a group helps better prepare you for the bigger challenges,” McGee told TimesUnion.com.
