Making progress

Despite three uneven losses, LHS girls lacrosse team improving.

By: Tim Falls
   The Lawrence High School girls lacrosse team is showing improvement.
   It may not show in the Cardinals’ record.
   Or in the final score of their first few games.
   Nonetheless, senior Katie Coleman can see it on the field.
   "We have really improved," said Coleman. "I’m so proud of the girls. I know they’re all doing their best."
   Coleman scored twice as Lawrence lost to Notre Dame, 14-3, on Monday and dropped to 0-3 so far this season.
   While the Cardinals were in the negative by 11 goals, Coleman focused on the positives.
   "We always come to play our best," said the senior bound for the University of Delaware. "That’s what we did. We’re still a beginning program and still learning."
   Unlike the coaches, Coleman has been a constant for the Lawrence lacrosse program since joining the freshman team and then playing varsity as a sophomore in the inaugural season.
   Head coach Heather Rainey and assistant Lauren Gossner hail from The College of New Jersey’s Class of 2005 and played on the Lions’ national champion lacrosse team. They took over the Cardinal program this season and Coleman said she has learned a lot from the new coaches.
   "They are very helpful," said Coleman. "Everything is improving. Our defense is improving, we have more technique, we’re making plays."
   All those things will make the team better, eventually.
   For now, though, the Cardinals will have to endure a demanding schedule as the team makes progress.
   "Whether we win or lose it doesn’t matter," said Coleman, "as long as you do everything you can and do everything you’re supposed to do."
   Coleman scored twice against Notre Dame, even though the Irish dominated much of the action.
   Notre Dame fired 34 shots at the Cardinal net and Kelly Twamley led the scoring with five goals.
   "Notre Dame was a tough one," admitted Coleman.
   Coleman added she felt Lawrence had its opportunities as well, including the direct shots, one of which resulted in one of her goals.
   "That is definitely an opportunity for a shot," said Coleman. "We have to make the most of all those chances."
   Even though Lawrence had trouble stopping Notre Dame’s attack, Coleman saw the progress her team has made.
   Freshman Lauren Raymond saw it too.
   Raymond joined the varsity program with experience in the sport, and as more Cardinals come in already familiar with lacrosse, the team can advance to the next level much more rapidly.
   "There’s multiple freshmen that have come onto the team and have played before," said Raymond.
   Still, Raymond said the experience she’s gained in the first few games has helped tremendously.
   "I’ve learned so much from Ms. Rainey," said Raymond. "It’s all a learning experience. If Ms. Rainey is still the coach in four years we’ll be a much tougher team."
   Raymond scored the third of Lawrence’s goals in the final minutes against Notre Dame.
   "It shows we can do things," said Raymond. "It shows the other girls on the team it can be possible."
   Even though Lawrence hasn’t scored very often, each goal takes the team a little further and shows the players they’re doing something right.
   "We had good communication," said Raymond. "We kept working and we never quit. We have plays we executed and they created scoring opportunities."
   Against teams like Notre Dame, only the Lawrence players can judge whether they played the way they could. Only the Cardinals themselves know if they gave it their all.
   Coleman said she’s sure they did against Notre Dame.
   "When you walk off the field," said Coleman, "you have to do it with your head held high."
   NOTES: The Lawrence boys lacrosse team also is off to a rough start. The Cardinals fell to West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 16-2, last Friday. Prior to that, Lawrence has lost to Princeton, 18-1, and WW-P North, 12-6. Matt Watson has generated most of the Cardinals’ offense with five of the six goals against the Knights, while Dave Schindewolf had the lone goal against Princeton and tallied once against the Pirates. It doesn’t get any easier anytime soon. Lawrence was scheduled to face a strong Hopewell Valley squad Wednesday night. The Bulldogs will face Rutgers Prep at noon Saturday.