Catholic Central expects big things in second year
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. >> It was bitterly cold and pouring rain as the final minutes ticked off the clock in Catholic Central’s 16-1 win over Schenectady. Even with the running clock, score in hand and subs in the game, Catholic Central controlled possession every time. They started off their second season of existence with a statement.
Six years ago, Catholic Central lacrosse was just an idea in Maureen Lammon’s head. Now, she’s the head coach of a program that has high expectations and girls getting looks to play at the college level.
“It’s hard to imagine these kids that I saw as seventh graders, who came out and were a little rag tag,” said Lammon, now the head coach. “We were like the bad news bears.”
She has three current seniors that were a part of the original team. One of them, Colleen McDonnell, led Catholic Central with five goals and two assists on Friday af- ternoon. The team as a whole has seven seniors. Kelly Stanton had three goals and Lindsay Honsinger added four. Bayly Lammon chipped in three goals as well.
To a woman, they all thought this team was capable of making a deep sectional run, building off a successful if not somewhat disappointing opening campaign a year ago.
Lammon’s team won nearly every draw in the blistering cold and held possession. They lead 2-1, then never let
the Patriots get another sniff at a score. It’s just the first in a long line of games where Catholic Central hopes to bring down far more established programs.
“We like the high hopes,
we don’t like to be underestimated,” McDonnell said. “We’re playing with these teams that are established and have been playing for years. It’s fun. It’s a really good group of girls. We’re hoping to go far this year.”
McDonnell said winning this year will be to honor Lammon, who really is the reason why there even is a girls lacrosse program. It
was her idea, and its been her project. Now she’s watching it thrive. Lammon was a high school lacrosse player, and played in college at Hobart and William Smith College.
Next up might be steeper challenges for the team than Schenectady presented. They’ll face Hoosick Falls Tuesday and host Cohoes later in the week.
“It’s pretty cool to see a program built from the beginning,” said Sarah Ingalsoe, who’s been with the program since Day 1. “You can play sports and just join, and it’s fun. But to see our progress from seventh graders who don’t even know how to cradle, to really competing with these teams that have had programs for a long time, it’s
kind of an amazing thing.”
The goal will be sectional titles and building on wins. As the game was winding down, one player on the bench boldly proclaimed that they were just “running out the clock.” It might get harder from here, but there’s no lack of confidence for a group that would have every excuse to be a lot worse than they are.
“Realistically, we really do hope to get much further on in the sectionals this year. I think we have a really good chance of it,” Lammon said. “We had a lot of close losses last year where we went into overtime. And think this year we really can pull it out. That’s honestly my hope for them.”