After winning their first two conference games of the new season, the Schreiber High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse team will look to keep the momentum going. The girls finished last season at 9-6 overall and 7-2 in conference play. They fell to Oceanside in the quarterfinals.
This season, the team is ranked third in Nassau Conference II, behind Long Beach and Plainedge. Under the helm of first-year coaches Kaitlyn Carter and Kathleen Lennon, it looks to be an interesting year for the Lady Vikings. The 2015 edition of the Port Washington girls team seems like a very athletic and talented bunch who can be scrappy and aggressive.
“They are ambitious and they really want to put Port Girls lacrosse on the map,” said Carter. “Not only are they great athletes, but they are such a nice bunch.”
What makes the team great is the excellent chemistry and dedication the girls have. They constantly encourage and support one another, both on and off the field. They also take the time to help and learn from one another. This results in practices filled with hard work and laughter for the close-knit group. Carter stressed that these girls like to learn.
“The thing that’s so great about the girls on our team is that they’re all so coachable,” said Carter. “They have a great grasp of the sport and a very high ‘lacrosse IQ.’” Lennon added, “They are happy to be here.” “They want to be here to win and get better everyday. They come early and stay late,” she said.
The team has a variety of players to pick and choose from. Rachel Rosen anchors a strong defense and has great vision. “Rachel is the most athletic kid I’ve ever coached,” said Carter. “She is a great defender and sees the field like a point guard/quarterback.”
Mia Walker, Emma Kabuto, Catie Egan and Diandra Burton make up the rest of team’s suffocating defense in front of goalie Claudia Hanover. Hanover is young and quick in the net. She is also good with the stick and has a very fast step. “We have a really strong defensive lineup this year because we’ve gotten close on our end,” said Walker. “The attack has as well, but the defense has been together a little longer.”
Walker and Oliva Ressa, two senior captains, are looking forward to having fun and playing in their last year with the team. They seek to build on their transition game, which will be of good use against stiff competition.
“I’m happy that my team allowed me the chance to be captain, but I definitely know that there are things that I can still work on,” said Walker. “I’m working on my speed and making sure I work on my offensive attack because those are just as important.”
“Although I have improved over the years, there’s always room for improvements and room to get better,” said Ressa. “I’m one of the leading goal scorers, and I look to move the ball and try to make as many assists as I can.”
Rounding out the attack with Ressa are Lily Avazis and Gabby Friedman. These girls can do it all. They can dodge, pass and score. Once they get the transition game going, the offense is scary good.
The team’s concerns are just to stay healthy and make sure everyone is in the best shape possible. The teams that will give Port Washington a hard time this year will be Long Beach and Plainedge. “Long Beach and Plainedge are both going to give us a run for our money,” said Carter. “If the girls play as well as they are capable of, then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
As always, team expectations remain the same: win the conference championship. Carter and Lennon believe that this team is good enough to win the conference and they want them to continue to get better game after game.
“We always tell them that the sky’s the limit,” said Carter. “If they want it, they can go as far as they want.”
“It’s like a game-to-game expectation,” said Lennon. “Every game is like our next biggest challenge. We expect them to win every next game.”
So far, the Vikings are up to the challenge of playing hard, learning from their mistakes and applying it to the next game. They have the depth to make it far and look to use that to their advantage. The team motto is that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
“So far, we’re on a great path,” said Ressa. “We’re 2-0 already. I don’t expect to fall down from there at all.”
“I’m looking forward to making it to the finals and winning the conference,” said Walker. “That’s our expectations.”
