Patriots back for more
Experienced Concord-Carlisle seeks title
Concord-Carlisle has a leg up on its girls lacrosse competition.
Last season, the Patriots advanced to the Division 1 East title game for third time in four years and return most of their starters from the 17-4 campaign.
“One of our strengths this year which we didn’t have as a luxury last year is the number of returning players,” said senior midfielder Payton Vaughn. “We had a lot of great team chemistry last year and having such a big portion of the team back this season makes it easier to pick up where we left off in June.”
C-C coach Paul Morrison has a plethora of talent at his disposal, including Vaughn and her sister and midfielder Fallon, with Molly Dibble and Kylie Bowen at attack. Last year, Morrison thought his team played its best after April school vacation. Second-year captain Payton Vaughn thinks the team can build on that late-season momentum throughout this season.
“We’re also really trying to focus on bringing ‘playoff game intensity’ to every game and every practice,” Vaughn said. “I think if we can do that we’ll definitely continue to improve and be at the level we want to be by the end of our regular season.”
One of Concord-Carlisle’s biggest challengers will be Franklin. Last year’s East champions return junior Annie Walsh, who is one of the state’s best on draw controls. Also in the East, Meghan Rodino hopes to push Natick further into the postseason in her senior year.
The Rockets may have lost some significant starters to graduation, but Callie Hem will hope to lead Needham to a second consecutive Div. 1 state championship. Fellow South powerhouse Notre Dame of Hingham will continue to be tough, especially with junior Madison Ahern, who logged 104 goals last spring.
Longtime juggernaut Westwood might have some growing pains, but can never be counted out. Caitlin Chicoski will help keep Wellesley in the South mix.
Duxbury earned a program-first win over Westwood to open its season. Kelly Jurgens is back as head coach after a threeyear hiatus, and junior Julia Barry is dangerous all over the field.
Jordan Torres found the back of the net 82 times in 2017, and will look to top that during her senior campaign for reigning Div. 1 North champion Andover. The Warriors return eight starters, including fast senior middie Emma Farnham.
Realignment has shifted divisions for some of the state’s top squads. Last season’s Div. 2 state runner-up, Walpole, jumps up to Div. 1 with Celia Walsh leading the midfield and Emily Curtis heading up the attack.
In the North, two of the best in Div. 2 also make the move up to the ranks of Div. 1: Sectional champ Newburyport returns nine starters, including 61-goal scorer Molly Rose Kearney. And Marblehead, which lost in the North semifinals last year, is still loaded with talent including junior midfielder Grace Arthur, senior midfielder Caroline Driscoll and senior goaltender Maeve Caldwell.
Those division changes give Ipswich a bit of cushion as it deals with graduation losses. The Tigers were the Div. 2 North runners-up, but only return four starters, including dynamic defender Deirdre O’Flynn.
Cohasset remains the team to beat in Div. 2. The Skippers return the talented Hansen sisters — senior captain Elle, who had 80 goals last season, and junior Jane, who netted 94. Jane Cavanaro will lead Cohasset’s defense, and sophomore Molly Greer is an excellent two-way player.
Challenging the Skippers will be longtime South rival Norwell, which will have sisters Murphy and Maddie McDonough leading a potent offense.
Dual County League champion Wayland returns its defensive corps as it hopes to make a deeper postseason run in Div. 2 East. After a 58-goal and 24-assist sophomore campaign, Sophia DiCenso hopes to propel Foxboro further into the sectional fray.