Girls lacrosse tops Knights
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Like the rest of her class, Michelle Morris was thrown right into the fire as sophomore playing varsity lacrosse at West Windsor-Plainsboro High South.
”When we were freshmen we all played on the JV team with Coach (Bryan) Fisher,” recalled Morris, who is now a senior for the Pirates. “We all moved up together to the varsity as sophomore when he became the head coach.
”It’s been great to see how much progress we have made as players and as a team. We have come a long way.”
The Pirates achieved one of their season goals on Saturday with a 10-7 win over WW-P North. It was their first win over the Knights since 2001, helping the program take another step forward.
”Ten years is a long time,” Fisher said of finally getting a win over North. “I said to the girls those are the moments you want the kids to have. That was what high school athletics is all about. The girls will remember it forever. It’s a special moment.
”We lost to them 14-11 earlier this year and some of the recent games have been close. We were 9-1 and they were 8-1, so it was a big game for the division. If we can win next week can lock up the division for the second year in a row.”
Morris finished the game with five goals, one of which was the 100th for her career with the Pirates. Kendal Borup added two goals and three assists, one of which was her 100th career assist. Olivia Harpel and Ana Lucia Dellien scored two goals each for the Knights.
”It was definitely good for us to get this win,” said Morris, who will play lacrosse next year at Duquesne University. “We had not done it and we knew we could do it this year. We were close a few times but we have not been able to beat North.
”We played the way we knew we had to play and we have always felt like we had the skills to get the job done.”
The Pirates have gotten better each year Morris and her classmates have been in the program and this year they hope to claim their first Mercer County Tournament title, as well as make a deep run in the state tournament.
”It feels good,” Fisher said. “We have beaten everybody in the CVC now and it feel good. These seven seniors have been tremendous. I started them all as sophomores and they are all starting as seniors. They have made lacrosse exciting at South. They were just so excited today.
”I think they realize this could be a special year. We’re the No. 1 seed in the MCT and that was one of four goals we had. Beating North, getting to the county final and winning the division are also goals we have. The girls are putting time in during the off-season. They have developed camaraderie with the younger kids. I feel like we have a program now. I feel lucky to have a group like this.”
Morris is happy to be a part of it. She and fellow seniors Borup, Kelsey Sandgren, Megan Spencer, Molly Johnson, Carolina Echeverri and Laura McCormick have helped the program move forward.
”It means a lot us,” Morris said. “We have been playing together for so long and we have worked so hard. We have always wanted to do our best to improve the South program. I think this year we have realized how far we have come and it is exciting.”
Morris is the second player from the senior class to record her 100th career goal after Borup did it earlier this year. She will leave a lasting impression on the program.
”She has been great,” Fisher said. “She is a great soccer player as well. She had knee surgery in December and has come back strong from that. She is a warrior. She told me there was no way she would miss the season and she has played through a lot of pain. She is a fantastic teammate.”

