L-S set to get rolling
Despite losses, injuries, Warriors seek D1 repeat
The Lincoln-Sudbury girls’ lacrosse program knows adversity.
Weeks before the Division 1 tournament last spring, star midfielder Lucy Davis tore an anterior cruciate ligament for the second time, ending her season. The Warriors rallied, earned the bracket’s No. 1 seed, and then finished off a 21-2 season with a 10-9 victory over Westwood in the final.
This season, L-S started minus junior Allie
Collins, also sidelined while she rehabs a knee injury.
“[Collins] was the backbone of our defense last year, and she unfortunately got hurt,” said senior captain Harper Friedholm. “This year — like last year how we played for Lucy – we’re all playing for Allie Collins. I think that gives our team a little extra motivation, and she’s been fantastic on the sidelines.”
L-S coach Kaillie Kelly is confident in her returning core, and players with an ability to train and get better during the season. The roster lists six first-year varsity players.
“We might look a little different, but we’re pretty excited about the talent and the vibe around the team,” said Kelly after an 11-7 season-opening loss to perennial state power Longmeadow on Saturday. “Just a really good group that has bought into being connected right off the rip . . . We’re just psyched to get back out there and compete.”
It all starts from the midfield, with returning multisport athletes leading the charge.
Friedholm, who has committed to Cornell, totaled 36 goals, 34 assists, 53 draw controls, and 56 ground balls in an All-American junior season.
“She brings a lot of the qualities you look for in an athlete,” said Kelly of Friedholm, also a standout hockey and volleyball player.
“Great leader, great teammate. Always the first one there, last one to leave. She’s definitely someone we lean on to set the tone of our team, and that’s in the DNA of the person she’s always been.”
Kelly feels that being a three-sport athlete has helped Friedholm with craftiness and creativity on the field.
Friedholm said her parents really focused on the importance of cross-training, “and doing as much as you can,” she said. “Every time the season comes around, I’m so excited for lacrosse.”
What is her motivation? Friedholm said she focuses on team success.
“I think, personally, my game is not individual at all,” she said “I think I really rely on my teammates and their play as well. To be able to have a good game and play well for them, and my coaches especially — they’ve done so much for me. It’s all about playing for the people around me.
“I think that’s what makes our group so successful. Almost everyone in our group is driven like that. I think that’s what pushes me to be my best every day, and try to get better every day.”
Her hockey teammate, Davidson-bound senior Lydia Canavan, will shift from defense to midfield.
“She’s just a workhorse on both sides of the ball. Not a lot of teams got a scout on her last year. She is an absolute beast on the field,” said Friedholm. “She’s my co-captain, she’s an amazing person — she specifically is going to be someone to look out for.”
“Great stick. Probably not a name a lot of people have heard, but a name I think people will know by the end of the season,” said Kelly. “She is a monster.”
Starting from youth clinics in Lincoln and Sudbury, battling outside challenges, and securing a state title, this Warrior roster has overcome many obstacles together. They remain up for the challenge.
“The big picture of growing up with these girls and playing with them since we were 7, 8 years old, and then KB [Kelly] coming in and being so dedicated to us, making us better, I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” said Friedholm. “It’s an amazing group of girls and I’m so happy that I got to play with them for this long.”
Quick sticks
◼︎ Medfield’s 19-9 triumph over Tri-Valley League rival Westwood Thursday was not only the Warriors’ first-ever victory over the Wolverines, it was also Westwood’s first league loss ever.
“I was determined to get this team to a place where we could challenge them,” Medfield coach Mary Laughna said. “I knew we had a chance this year.”
Laughna credited senior
Mary Panciocco and sophomore Stella Scobbo, who combined for 18 caused turnovers in the first three games for the second-ranked Warriors (3-0). Senior Katelyn Nicotera has been solid in goal, and Alex Proefrock has emerged as a catalyst. Four different players scored the Warriors’ first four goals Thursday, as Medfield’s depth paid dividends to complement Boston College-bound star Kelly
Blake (9 goals against Westwood).
As thrilling as the victory was, Laughna & Co. hope it’s just the beginning.
“This is obviously a highlight, but we still have a lot of growing to do,” Laughna said. “We need to make sure we keep playing our game and keep getting better.”
◼︎ Ipswich, fresh off a spectacular 19-2 season and a trip to the Division 4 final, looks poised for another deep run.
The Tigers (2-0) allowed just 10 combined goals in their opening games — wins over Beverly (9-6) and Manchester Essex (6-4).
Coach Allison Tivnan, a defender herself at Danvers High and Assumption University, credited her defensive players for their motor and cohesiveness.
“They truly work as a full unit,” Tivnan said. “We weren’t sure we would be able to play our high-pressure defense this season without Ashton Flather, but the girls were adamant that we stick with it.”
Senior captain Ella Stein leads the unit and dictates the action. Avery Brown and Faith
Hauenstein have excelled on the crease and helped down low. Lucy Donahue and Jade Wilcox provide pressure and cause turnovers, and
Allie Wile and Lucy Winthrop do the same from the top. New varsity goalie Emma Paquette has made a seamless transition. The Tigers are currently minus senior captain Morgan Sexton (ACL), who could return later in the season.
“We take such pride in our defense,” Tivnan said. “We love it. They work so hard and support each other, each and every game.”
◼︎ Norton senior Emma Cochrane scored her 200th career goal Thursday . . . Bentley-bound Braintree senior Callie Burchill eclipsed 200 career points Monday . . . North Quincy senior Autumn O’Campos and Ursuline senior Erin O’Donnell reached 100 career goals Friday . . . Newburyport junior Reese Bromby, a UMass commit, did the same Wednesday . . . Hingham junior Caroline Connolly hit 100 career points Friday.