GIRLS LACROSSE
By: Mike Molaro
In the late 1970s, Ringo Starr told us that "It Don’t Come Easy."
Although the former Beatle was talking about singing the blues with heart, that title could also be transferred to the Lawrence High School girl’s lacrosse squad.
In just its third year of existence, the Cardinals know that it will take awhile before they can go stick-to-stick with veteran programs like Hopewell Valley and West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
But they also know that each day is a new lesson. Sometimes the lessons are hard to take, like the 8-1 setback at Allentown on April 11. But sometimes the lessons are exciting and positive, like last Friday’s 6-4 triumph over visiting WW-P South.
In defeating the Pirates for its first win of the season, Lawrence (1-2) received a pair of goals from sophomore midfielder Lauren Raymond, and one goal each from sophomore midfielder MaryKate Rogener, senior attacker Heather Olex, junior midfielder Aisling O’Sullivan Roche, and senior midfielder Colleen Kelly.
The Cardinals scored the game’s first goal and took a 4-2 lead at halftime.
"The girls went out with confidence," second-year head coach Heather Rainey said. "They were fired up to play. Scoring first gave our girls a lot of confidence. Having that lead at halftime really helped. We went out for the second half confident and pumped. We led the entire game and that helped. As with any young team, being on top gives you more confidence and you seem to play with more intensity and make crisper plays."
Rogener scored the lone Cardinal goal against the Redbirds, who held a 23-6 advantage in shots.
"Our goalie (junior Erica Nagy) really stepped up for us," added Rainey. "Allentown led 3-0 at halftime but it easily could’ve been 8-0. Erica was terrific in goal and she had to be. We couldn’t get our attack going. The score doesn’t show it, but we played better than in our first game. We improved a little from how we played against Robbinsville (14-7 loss)."
As a coach instilling a new philosophy while building a program, Rainey is spending as much time in a teacher-pupil relationship as she is coach-athlete.
"We had a lot to learn last year," Rainey said. "We are still improving. We are young in terms of age but also young in terms of skill level. We are doing a lot of teaching and a lot of coaching. The girls are responding very well. It takes a little time to get the concepts down, but they want to improve. The girls know I expect a lot from them and they are trying their best to take what we teach them and use them in game situations."
The maturation process is slow but sure.
"We are coming along day by day," added Rainey. Each day get a little better."
Ringo hit in right on the head.

