Despite getting off to a slow start in their first two games, Girls Lacrosse won their first game of the season at home on Tuesday, April 9 against Newton North with a score of 12-7. The first two games of the season against Natick and Mansfield, respectively, were hard fought losses for the Rebels. They fell to Natick 10-8 after an intense game with outstanding play by junior goalie Erin LeBlanc. The next day, the Rebels were slow to start and fell quickly behind Mansfield. The girls rallied in the second half but were not able to catch up and the game ended with a score of 12-7.
The Rebels then played their first home game and they were determined to win. However, they could not become overconfident because of Newton North’s key offensive player, junior Shannon Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has been on the 2012 Lower New England National Tournament Team; 2012 UnderArmour Underclassman New England Team; 2012 Eastern Mass Girls Lacrosse Coaches Assoc. 2nd Team All-Star: and, 1st Team Bay State Conference All-Star. Fitzgerald has also verbally committed to play Division I lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University.
” We knew she would be the single biggest offensive threat we have faced so far and could possibly face all year. We decided to face guard her,” said Walpole Head Coach Mike Tosone. This meant that senior Nina Tobin was assigned to guard Fitzgerald all game and if she received the ball at any time that the closest player was to immediately double the ball and force the ball out of her stick. “Nina did an excellent job. She shut her down throughout the game and prevented her from having many goals,” said Coach Tosone. Fitzgerald only got 2 goals on free positions shots due to penalties.
Walpole also dominated the face off circle. Junior Bri Doherty won most of the draws to herself which contributed to Walpole’s numerous offensive possessions. “Our offense was simple. We had no need to run our set offensive plays because cutting and one versus ones worked so well” said Senior Captain Erin Richardson. Richardson and her fellow senior Captains Seana Cofsky and Michaela Tosone all had goals along with senior Steph Barmakian, Dohrety, and sophomores Molly Lanahan and Meghan Sundstrom.
Walpole had a different defensive set up because Tobin and Fitzgerald were taken out of the equation. Normally when Newton North pressured the net the closest person slides to double, preventing the shot from getting off. However, if Fitzgerald and Tobin were next to the Newton North offensive player pressuring the net, the slide would have to come from two positions over. Also, Captain Michaela Tosone received a yellow card for a check to the head and Walpole’s defense was a man down for two minutes.
There are still things the team could improve on, especially goalie clears and transition offense, but the Rebels deserved the hard fought win. Walpole plays again in Wellesley on Thursday April 11. They look to improve to 2-2 against the Raiders.
