New Albany lacrosse getting big boost from ‘loud’ veteran defense
Natalie Weaver did not point to a particular game when analyzing the New Albany girls lacrosse team’s defensive performance, despite the Eagles’ hot start and a top-10 ranking statewide.
Instead, the junior and Kennesaw State commit cited the team’s preseason trip to Camp Nuhop in Ashland County.
“Learning to get to know each other was huge,” Weaver said of an overnight retreat that included leadership games and other bonding exercises. “Last year, I felt connected more with the defense. I feel more connected with every single person now.”
A unit that returned all four starters from last year’s Division I state runner-up team has continued the program’s strong play, as the Eagles were 7-1 entering Friday’s game against Medina. New Albany is ranked fourth statewide by Laxnumbers.com, with its only loss having come to secondranked Massillon Jackson.
Seniors Mimi Economus, Catherine Gurd and Meghan Kallner round out the starting lineup for a defense that, according to coach Elaina Enich, does not see as much rotation in an average game as the midfield or attack.
Senior Annika Duncan starts in goal, and junior Laura Mason, a George Mason commit, occasionally sees time but usually plays midfield.
New Albany has allowed an average of seven goals.
“We have a lot of veterans,” Enich said. “Every one of them is extremely scrappy. Our biggest strength, and sometimes a weakness, is we’re so
hard on ourselves to be perfect all the time.”
Weaver called Gurd, a two-year starter who came off the bench as a freshman when New Albany lost to Upper Arlington in the state final, “the mom of the defense.”
“I’m fairly loud on defense,” Gurd said. “I like leading our defense and keeping us as a team. We celebrate the small things.
“Bringing everybody back like we did, it’s more about fine-tuning this year. We find a way to figure out how to stop opponents once we’ve seen them. We’ve learned a lot so far. Our communication, especially with the middies, has been off the charts.”
Other games against top competition await, including a visit to UA on Thursday and a home game against Olentangy Liberty on May 10. UA and Liberty are ranked first and third in the state, respectively.