Old Lyme girls open lacrosse season with easy victory

Anyone who ventured outside Saturday knows why Old Lyme could have postponed its season-opening girls' lacrosse game against Shoreline Conference foe Morgan.

In Connecticut, March comes in like a lion and goes out like an enraged badger that hangs around until deep into April.

Most teams in various sports rescheduled their events on what was opening day of the CIAC's spring season.

The Wildcats' field was also a mess thanks to the one-two punch of winter and Friday's rain.

But Old Lyme opted to play — albeit on the turf at neighboring East Lyme High School — and won 14-2. The Wildcats played because coach Emily Macione believed it was imperative for a few reasons. For one, they've had few chances to practice outside thanks to the weather.

Macione also wanted her team to be prepared for nine-time Southern Connecticut Conference champion Hand on Tuesday, a purposeful upgrade to its non-conference schedule after losing in the Class S semifinals the past three seasons.

“(I was) reflecting on what we could've done differently,” Macione said about the days after Old Lyme's 2016 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Canton. “The feedback I got from some coaches that played against us, where we were weak, was kind of how we deal with pressure, which I definitely see. If you don't see it a lot, then when you do see it, it can kind of catch you off guard. I definitely think that has been an issue for us in the past, so we're working on that this year.

“The Shoreline is great. I love playing in the conference. Obviously we have good rivalries with Old Saybrook, North Branford, H-K (Haddam-Killingworth), but it's good to get outside the box.”

Macione asked Old Lyme athletic director Hildie Heck to schedule tough non-conference games.

Heck granted Macione's wish by scheduling Hand, Canton, Class S runnerup Somers, 2014 Class S champion Stonington, Branford and Waterford.

“When you play a great team, nine times out of 10, you play better, too, because you're forced into situations that you're not always preparing for,” Macione said. “That's the time when you can really surprise yourself, see what you're capable of.”

The Wildcats made good use of East Lyme's invitation early as they led 9-0 at halftime.

Senior Anna Mesham led the Wildcats with three goals and two assists and classmate Abby Berger added three goals and an assist.

“I think we're still not over it,” Mesham said about losing three successive Class S semifinals. “It gives me a really big urge to win. It's a driving factor that we think about every day at practice.”

Senior Sydney Cowell also stood out for the Old Lyme, and not just because she had two goals and three assists.

Cowell was the only player on either team who stuck with the traditional skirt and sleeveless jersey, the cold be damned.

“It feels restrictive,” Cowell said about layering-up. “It feels like I'm going in slow motion.”

“She's small, but don't let that fool you. She's tough as nails,” said Macione, dressed as if she was headed out on a fishing trawler in February.

“The cold clearly does not bother her. Her family goes to Florida a lot, so I was kind of surprised she chose no Under Armour. I was cold just looking at her.”

Senior Maggie Berger had a goal and three assists and classmate Hannah Guenther also had six saves for Old Lyme, Also, freshman Lydia Tinnerello had two goals and classmates Daisy Colvin and Sammy Owen and sophomore Anna Sather each scored once.

“It's a good way to start off the season like this,” Cowell said, “especially when we have a tough game coming up against Hand.

“I think the intensity we had on the field today was great. We were first to the ball almost every time, and the team connection was just awesome.” n.griffen@theday.com