McNulty, Knights off to fast start

Senior is part of balanced offense

By: Bob Nuse
   A year ago, five players on the West Windsor-Plainsboro North girls’ lacrosse team scored 20 or more goals.
   Of those five, only one graduated, taking 52 goals with her. Even with most of their offense back, the Knights are finding goals in new places this year. Kaitlyn McNulty, a senior who scored just three times a year ago, scored three goals in the Knights’ season-opening 8-2 win over Allentown, then added two more in a 15-4 win over Lawrence on Tuesday.
   "We’re off to a very good start," McNulty said. "We have a lot of sophomores playing up this year and they have been doing very well. Our offense is very balanced. We have a lot of different people who can score. My role this year is more attacking than it has been in the past and I’ve been able to score a little more. But the main thing is that we play together and win."
   In Tuesday’s win over Lawrence, Katie Lalli led the Knights with seven goals. A year ago, she led the team with 55 goals. And even with the graduation of Shannon Bulk and her 52 goals, there is plenty of offense left this year.
   Six different players scored in the win over Lawrence, which is the kind of balanced offense the Knights expect to have this year.
   "We do a lot of team bonding and we feel like we really work well together as a team," McNulty said. "We hang out with each other a lot and we have pasta parties and psyche parties. Since we had so many seniors graduate last year, the seniors we have this year have tried to step up and talk to the underclassmen about what they need to do.
   "Last year we lost a lot of close games and that was heartbreaking. We don’t want to have that happen again this year. We try to make sure everyone knows that even if we have a lead, we can’t let up and let the other team come back on us."
   McNulty’s newfound offense, along with that of returning players like Lalli, Kristen Orloff, Brooke Wiener and Erica Depelteau make the Knights a tough team to defend.
   "That’s what we’re hoping," McNulty said. "So far this season it hasn’t been just one person doing most of the scoring. It’s been pretty balanced and that’s what we’re hoping for. We do a lot of plays where it doesn’t matter who the player is that takes the shot. Whoever is open will shoot, we don’t look to just one person."
   McNulty is hoping that her senior year is a good one for the Knights as a team. This season may mark the end of her lacrosse career, so she’s looking to go out with a good season.
   "I’m personally looking at bigger schools for college, so I’ll probably look to just play for a club team," she said.
   But for now, there is still the North season to play, and so far it’s been going quite well.
   "We know we have some tougher teams coming up on the schedule," McNulty said. "We’re just going to try to do the best we can against all of the teams we play. We have a good mix on the team this year and it’s been a lot of fun."
   A good start will make everyone feel that way. And a good start where everyone plays a part in the success, that’s an even better feeling.