WHS girls’ lacrosse starts preseason showcasing strong skills against Mount Ararat

By Matt Pascarella

In their first game of the preseason, the Windham girls’ varsity lacrosse team took the field against Mount Ararat in Topsham on Monday, April 6. Windham was ready to get it done and scored 11 goals in the first quarter alone. Windham fired another eight more goals between the pipes to end this game with a 19-0 shutout.

Windham junior Morgan McLain looks to pass the ball
during a preseason girls' lacrosse game against Mount
Ararat in Topsham on Monday, April 6.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“We wanted to see where the gaps that we need to fill in practice are; I think we take this game and reflect on what we need to do,” said Windham senior Abby Trainor. “Coming into the game we were trying to use as many people as we could on offense and incorporate a lot of new players onto the field, so we have a lot of depth in the regular season.”

Trainor said things that went well were their ability to possess the ball, which was a game-changer in the first and second quarters, their ability to cut and move, the whole team worked as a unit. She also said every single person worked hard on the ride, no matter the position; getting those turnovers and fastbreaks every time, was really successful for them. They could work on the outside passes to the adjacent defenders; slow their eyes down, catch the ball and have patience in the offense instead of forcing a pass to the first cutter they see in the middle.

Windham senior Neve Ledbetter scored in the first 15 seconds. After that it was a revolving door of Windham Eagles scoring one after another, many more than once. Trainor scored, as did sophomore Brooklyn Roy and juniors Morgan McLain and Grayson Cornish. Ledbetter found the back of net at least once more.

Windham passed well and had solid defense. They kept the ball away from their goalie for a majority of the game.

“I think our communication ... (went well) and is key after winning states last year,” said McLain. “We all have a really strong relationship. I think our defense is really locked down. Our game plan was to see where everyone’s heads were at and how well we play together.”

The second quarter brought more intense Windham offense with senior Mady Donnelly scoring. Roy scored twice. At the half Windham led, 16-0.

In the third quarter, Windham focused on moving the ball, while keeping up their defense.

“I think our gameplan was to give it our all and to see who worked well with each other. We all got an opportunity to work together (throughout the game),” said Roy. “Our communication was really good; we were hardworking and fast paced and I think that really paid off. I think our communication on defense needs work, it’s definitely hard because we have a good backer defense. So, getting that all organized and once that all comes together, that’ll be really good.”

Senior Olivia McPherson scored as did McLain in the fourth quarter.

“The biggest thing for us in the preseason is we got to worry about us and things we got to fix,” said Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins. “We’re trying to build chemistry ... we have new people stepping in and we’re trying to figure out those pieces of the puzzle. I thought they were good (on the field as a team). We have had six days where we’re renting and borrowing (space) and going all over the place; it was good to just get out and go. I thought we did a good job of getting going and moving around. I thought we gelled fine, we just need to build consistency. We got a little lackadaisical in the ride and that’s not us; our whole team is built around ... forcing (our opponent) to drive the length of the field, so we got to do a better job on the ride.” <