By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
David Schlesinger likes to build his lacrosse teams from the goal out, and in Mira Shane he had the perfect starting point to his debut season at Princeton High School.
“She’s the ultimate stopper,” said the Little Tigers head coach. “She backstops our entire defense. She had a remarkable year.”
Opponents marveled as Shane repeatedly denied them on shot attempts. Shane was a vocal and spiritual leader for a Little Tigers team that made some big changes in front of her on defense.
“We moved two attackers to low defense this year, Campbell McDonald and Gabby Deitch,” Schlesinger said. “It was a great opportunity to start building something. Campbell and Gabby both brought a lot of speed. They started to gel and as the season went along they forged a great relationship with Mira, and that’s how we advanced so far in the county and states.”
Shane kept Princeton in games with a schedule that was improved this year. She gave the Little Tigers a chance to win while posting impressive numbers. She helped keep Notre Dame in check in a tight 5-4 loss in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals. She pushed the Little Tigers forward through a state tournament run that didn’t end until the semifinals of North Jersey, Group III in overtime.
“It was a big year for the program in general,” Shane said. “Individually, I was really, really striving to get ready for that collegiate level. I had some awesome teammates and an awesome coach to be able to get there hopefully. This year everything came together to have the best possible games for the team.”
Shane finished her year with 234 saves. She had 698 in her career while starting all four years in goal for the Little Tigers. This year, her efforts helped PHS come on strong to finish with 10 wins and make runs to the county and state semifinals.
Mira Shane is the Princeton Packet Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.
“She kept us in every tough game we were in,” Schlesinger said. “You look at our scores, other than Lenape and Agnes Irwin, we were in every game. That had everything to do with Mira. She was selected our Most Valuable Player. She earned US Lacrosse All-American honors. She is an Academic All-American. She’s deserving of every honor and credit available.
“As incredible a lacrosse player as she is, she’s an even better human being. She’s beloved by her teammates. She’s one of the most popular kids in the school.”
Whether she’s on the lacrosse field or off, Shane tries to stay in motion. She paces when there isn’t action at her end, and she has the same make-up away from the game.
“I’m a busy bee,” Shane said. “I don’t have a lot of time for what it seems myself.”
She likes the action on the field. She prefers to be tested, and this year’s improved schedule gave her plenty of opportunities.
“I do like the nail-biting games,” Shane said. “You’re not thinking in the moment it’s a big deal. The more shots, the better, you’re not coming out raw or dry.
“I walk around a lot back there,” she said. “You don’t want a lot of shots, but it’s nice to have a consistent sense of action and energy flowing. I’m always banging my pipes. A lot of goalies fall asleep when the ball goes on the other end. Another thing I learned from freshman to this year is being involved in everything. Cheering on and knowing what’s happening at the other end.”
It’s hard to keep track of all that Shane has happening in her life. She plays in a jazz band, sings in an a cappella group, and she played four years of basketball. It was basketball that was her first love, but she gravitated to lacrosse. She started playing lacrosse in fifth grade, and when her Princeton Lacrosse Club coach asked for volunteers to play goalie in seventh grade, she jumped at the chance.
“I got the bug then,” Shane said. “I couldn’t get out. I asked to do it the rest of the season. I couldn’t stop. I started playing summer lacrosse after that. I found something I love. I wanted to continue to protect my house and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Being the last line of defense suits her. As a fifth grader, she started playing lacrosse on the defensive end. Even in basketball, Shane was never an offensive minded player.
Said Shane: “I have a thing for defense and the heart that comes with being a defender.”
She has evolved through the years into a better goalie. This year, she had 60 more saves than her highest previous total in a PHS season as she took another step in her development.
“I definitely thought patience was a big thing, mental, emotional and physical patience,” Shane said. “Knowing shots at a higher level will come faster, stronger, even a different angle, I focused on waiting for the shots to come and making them do what I wanted them to do.“
Shane stepped up her workouts. She lifted more, and worked at her quickness to be able to get either low or high to block a shot. Those improvements combined with the attributes that had already made her stand out.
“She’s an incredible athlete,” Schlesinger said. “She has tremendous hand speed. She’s also been very, very well coached by the goalie coaches she’s had. She understands the game and the proper angles to take. Most of the time she’s able to position herself so she knows what’s open to the shooter which makes it easier to know what to defend. She’s extremely bright as well as talented.”
Shane played for the Ultimate Lacrosse Club. Now she coaches young goalies for them.
“I like details and I’m a stickler,” Shane said. “I let them have fun. I told them if there’s focus and you are laughing a lot, that’s a good thing.”
Shane has thoroughly enjoyed her years at Princeton. She was the only freshman on the team four years ago, a tough spot for anyone and particularly in a key position like goalie. It forced her to grow up quickly, and she has developed into a top leader.
“I felt blessed to be able to start every one of my high school games,” Shane said. “There’s been improvements. Physically I feel stronger. The quickness factor was a big mature part and being able to talk to my teammates and get in their face and tell them what I need out of them.
“If you let your teammates know you’re taking a bruise for them, they should take one for you. I have had great defenses come through. It’s going to be sad to leave. It’s been awesome.”
Shane is just as excited for the next step in her career. She will continue to play at the University of Michigan.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of remembering what I’ve learned from the Princeton High School in both sports, and what I’ve accomplished and know I need to work harder and be the strongest,” Shane said. “The team comes first. At the college level, it’s all about the team. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with Michigan. It’s not about you. It’s about what the team needs from you to succeed.”
Shane can help as Michigan starts to grow its program and try to compete with more established teams. She can be the sort of backbone that lifts a defense.
“I’ve coached some really amazing goalies through my career, including Bridget Bianco of Northwestern and a number of others from South Jersey Select,” Schlesinger said. “Mira has the potential to be as good as any of them. She has the drive to be great. She has the personality and mental makeup to move on after a tough goal. She just has an amazing heart and drive to succeed.”
