Lacrosse is a game that involves a stick, string and determination. It is a team who is willing to show up and put in work and get better at what they do because of their unrivaled passion for the game. To the girls who participate in the girls lacrosse team, it is not just a sport, it is a family for the players and for the coaches as well.
“I have been coaching for four years, and my favorite thing about coaching is seeing the players improve over the course of the season,” coach Michael Soyars said.
In any sport, the purpose is to win as well as enhance your skills and the girls’ lacrosse team is demonstrating that with their season record being 12-4-1. The team has kept on improving throughout this season and have beat the school record this season of eight wins.
“I think that our team is doing really well and is starting to come together as one effective unit, but our team can do better by trusting one another on the field,” junior Kate Kaplanis said.
Some of the girls work well together and some of them do not.
Even though some of the girls struggle with knowing and trusting one another, they have chances to try to get to know one another inside of school and on the field.
“We need more of a connection with others, because it is hard to accept advice from someone you do not have a connection with, and I feel that we only stick with the people we already know,” junior Bella Riley said.
The girls lacrosse team gets together off the field. Sometimes they go out to eat after games or to get ice cream, and before the games they all put ribbons in their hair.
Having relationships with players makes them more comfortable when passing and handling the ball. Teams can benefit one another by talking with each other to ensure lower anxiety on the field as well as becoming more focused on what they need to do during the game.
“I believe my personal strengths on the field are that I don’t panic under pressure and I have good ball control, but my weaknesses are my lack of aggression and while I can aim my shots I definitely need to work on getting more power behind them,” senior Megan Geiger said.
Precision is an important aspect of the game to have because if you do not have a focused mind as well as a good eye on where you want the ball to go then there is a high risk of missing the shot. Leaders who step up and emphasize the importance of these things will contribute to the team a lot.
“My biggest achievement has to be being a team captain this year. I’m so happy that I have the opportunity to step up and do more for the team this year,” Geiger said.
The girls lacrosse team as well as other sports teams for GlenOak, have team captains. Being the team captain means that you have a higher role of leadership for your fellow teammates, as well as talking to people and bringing unity in the team.
Even though a certain number of people can have the role of team captain, players can be leaders either way for their team and be motivators. Players with the determination and the drive to get to where they want to be promotes the team and makes them work even harder in any situation.
Next year, coaches and players have improvements they would like to make.
“Next year, I think we will continue to allow our team to grow and gain even more experience, whether it’s lacrosse IQ or physical experience,” Kaplanis said.
Most of the girls aim to improve the experience and learning aspect of the team, but coach Soyars also has a goal for the team.
“My goals for the team next year is to win more games this year and keep improving,” Soyars said.
“Next year I look forward to seeing how the team continues to grow and get better without me. The team has made so much progress over the last four years and I can’t wait to see the team continue to grow and get better,” Geiger said.
The team’s aspirations for next year’s team bonding will act as great motivators for the upcoming season. Even though the girls’ lacrosse season is coming to an end, it will lead to a new beginning for greatness next season.
