Girls lacrosse team hopes to be contender

With a winning attitude, the Lenape Valley Regional High School girls lacrosse team aims to continue its winning ways this spring.

”This season the team hopes to be a contender in the race to win our division,’’ head coach Corinne Bright said. “We have a solid lineup of returning varsity players who made huge contributions last season, so our strength is going to be our consistency on both sides of the field.

“We are hoping to gain scoring power from more than just a handful of players and gain momentum off of the draw with more players taking the draw.’’

Last year, the team posted an overall record of 11-7 and went 4-2 in its division.

The Patriots are 1-4 so far this season.

They defeated High Point, 14-2, on Wednesday, April 10 and are scheduled to play Lakeland at home at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 and Morris Catholic there at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 18.

Among the key returning players are seniors Sofia Billich (attack, four goals and seven ground balls won in 2023), Melissa Carpentier (defense), Alison Church (attack, 27 goals, six assists, 21 ground balls won, 10 caused turnovers in 2023), Claire Gallagher (defense), Ella Gomez (defense, 14 ground balls won, fours caused turnovers in 2023), Bethany Mayer (midfield, 16 goals, two assists, 47 ground balls won, 96 draw controls, 30 caused turnovers in 2023) and Dayanara Villarroel (defense, 16 ground balls won, 12 caused turnovers in 2023).

Also returning are juniors Addison Coles, (midfield, 30 goals, five assists, 36 ground balls won, 47 draw controls, 10 caused turnovers in 2023), Kylee McCracken (goalie, 146 saves in 2023), Sara Spring (attack, one goal, three ground balls won, one caused turnover in 2023), Cassidy Truesdell (defense, 33 ground balls won, 10 caused turnovers in 2023), Alida Williams (attack, eight goals, one assist, six ground balls won in 2023) and Regina Williams (midfield, 88 goals, 17 assists, 58 ground balls won, 52 draw controls, 26 caused turnovers in 2023).

Promising newcomers include juniors Rachel Clowes (defense), Stephanie DeLosSantos (attack) and Kendra Smith (midfield) and sophomores Erin Diet (attack and midfield), Catherine Kraemer (goalie), Gianna Molinari (attack) and Kiera Graham (defense).

Leadership is a positive for the Patriots this year.

“Our captains, Sofia Billich, Ali Church, Beth Mayer and Daya Villarroel, have already stepped up as leaders for the team this year,’’ Bright said. “We are lucky to have such confident and encouraging captains to lead this team from all aspects of the field.

“Having at least one captain from each position is a blessing to maintain leadership and experience throughout the field. They are role models both on and off of the field, which is exactly why they were voted in by their teammates.’’

This spring, Lenape Valley competes in the NJIGLL Colonial Red Division along with High Point, Hackettstown, North Warren, Pope John and Morris Catholic.

Hackettstown and North Warren are among the top teams to beat, the coach said.