Effort stays high for MHS girls’ lacrosse

Cougars closing in on wins

By: Bob Nuse
   Even in defeat, Tiffany Trockenbrod rarely questions the effort of her Montgomery High girls’ lacrosse team.
   "They try so hard and keep on fighting," said the first-year Cougars head coach, whose team fell to 1-9 with a 7-4 loss to Immaculata on Friday. "It’s been hard for them because we’ve been so close and we haven’t gotten a win in some of those games. They had been losing games by 10 goals to some of these teams, and now the games are close. I think it really hit them when we played Hunterdon Central and only lost by one.
   "I think they’re starting to realize we can be a good team. I think they’re starting to see the gap has changed and we’re getting closer. We just haven’t been able to get that win in some of these close games."
   A year ago, Montgomery finished the season with a 3-12 record. But of those 12 losses, nine came by five goals or more, with four being decided by at least 10 goals. This year, Montgomery has lost nine times, but five have been by two goals or less, plus the three-goal loss on Friday.
   So, despite a losing record, Trockenbrod keeps hearing about the progress the team is making.
   "That’s what everyone keeps saying," said Trockenbrod, whose team has a busy week ahead with games North Brunswick (Tuesday), Old Bridge (Thursday) and Bernards (Saturday in the Somerset County Tournament). "As a coaching staff, we have to realize that we’re not going to win every game and look at the growth of our team. If they give everything they have, we still may not beat Hillsborough. But they keep fighting all the way to the end.
   "We lost to Voorhees in double overtime. That was tough. Against Immaculata, the first 13 minutes we just didn’t play and we got down, 4-0. We called a timeout and talked about how we have to play hard. We came out and played much better and wound up losing, 7-4. But we played better after those first 13 minutes."
   While there has certainly been progress, Trockenbrod knows her players would feel much better about the improvement if it came with a win. And with at least seven more games left on the schedule, she hopes to see that happen, perhaps even in Saturday’s Somerset County Tournament game against Bernards.
   "I hope we can pull off a win," said Trockenbrod, whose team played for two weeks without leading scorer Shannon Hayes, who is now back in the lineup. "It depends on how my team shows up. They know they can play with these teams. But I think getting a win would help show them that. We had such a tough loss against Voorhees. That was devastating. Some of these games, we really feel like we should be winning. We lost to North Hunterdon by one goal in a game we outshot them, 36-11."
   Among the many things the first-year coach has been pleased with this year is the leadership of the senior class, which has kept positive during what has become a seven-game losing streak.
   "Katie Bennett and all the seniors have been doing a nice job for us," she said. "They play hard all the time and set a good example for the rest of the team. I wish I had them earlier. They all play hard and do well. I just wish I had more than just this year to work with them."
   At least they’re all making the most of the one year they do have together, even if there are not a lot of wins to show for the effort.