From the very beginning of the girls’ lacrosse season back in April, Katie Lundberg knew her team was very special and believed they had the highest lacrosse IQ of any squad she’d previously coached.
The team proved her observations were spot on when they recently finished the regular season undefeated, 18-0, in a win over section foe Shady Side Academy High School. The victory clinched the section championship for the team, and Fox Chapel Area has also been ranked seventh in the state, the only WPIAL team to make the top-10.
This last game of the regular season could have been a nightmare: for the first time the entire season, the squad was behind by two at one point in the game, and by their own admission, was far from playing their best lacrosse that night.
“It was a dogfight and an extremely tense game with a lot of adversity,” says Coach Lundberg, who has been with the team for six years, first as an assistant and now as a first-time head coach. “Shadyside had the ball in the final minutes of the game, but our defense came up strong and we were able to force a turnover and maintain possession to finish the game out. We are now eager to get back to work in preparation for the WPIAL playoffs.”
The squad might have had one poor performance, but overall, their statistics present a picture of excellence. In their 17 regular season games, the team outscored their opponents 332 to 99, and top scorers Meg McCrady, a senior, and junior Kate Goodwin, combined for a total of 163 goals and 219 points. Meg, a Georgetown University recruit, now has a career high of 231 goals and 337 total points, while Kate, who has another year ahead of her and already has committed to Lehigh University, so far has amassed 138 goals and 171 career points. Newcomer Mary Ellis, a freshman, who has played the game since her brother taught it to her in second grade, also made a big impact on offense as the third leading scorer with 25 goals and 90 points.
Meg, an All-American who is one of the most intense players on the field says, “I think the difference this year is that we have talent on all aspects of the field that can play an entire 50-minute game. Also, we’ve never really been this close before as a team. We’ve always been on the brink of being this good, so it’s exciting to finally have it happen this year.”
“This is an intelligent, focused, and determined team,” Coach Lundberg says. “They give all they have, not only at games, but every day at practice as well. This year we have the right combination of girls who work well together and compliment each other. Everyone brings something different and important to our ability to have success as a team.”
Midfielder Kate, a three-year starter, showers her coach with much of the credit for their success.
“The amount of time and energy she puts into us as a team amazes me, especially since she is a mother of young children and has a stressful job (as a nurse at Children’s Hospital of UPMC),” Kate says admiringly of her coach, who during her own playing days, was a high school All-American and then a star player for Duquesne University. “She has a great teaching method and she’s taught me almost everything I know about the game. One of the most important things she taught me and I think the rest of the team is to understand that you have to have total field vision – you can’t only focus on the current play, but the next play, and the play after that.”
As for the next step at the WPIAL playoffs, which begin the week of May 15, the Foxes have a first-round bye, but then could face another round of tough matches from powerhouses Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, and Shadyside Academy, all of whom they beat during the season.
“I’ve always believed that confidence, determination, and hard work will get you further than just skill alone,” Coach Lundberg says. “We play as a group and we fight as a group. I’m just unbelievably proud of this team. They amaze me everyday.”
Players who will lead the team in the days ahead are seniors Mikayla D’Cunha (attack), Meg McCrady (midfield), Kirsten Ovick (defense), and Caroline Smith (defense), Ali Wessel (attack); junior midfielder Kate Goodwin; sophomores Mary Ellis (attack), Marissa Hardiman (midfield), Rebecca Klaas (defense), Makenzie Miller (goalie); and freshmen Mary Ellis (attack), Sloan Rost (attack), and Julie Scheffer (defense).
Other girls who will continue to be instrumental to the team’s success are senior Megan Botos (goalie); juniors Olivia Bernacki (attack) and Margeaux Essey (midfield); sophomores Emily Ben, (defense), Makenna Blazerno (midfield), and Syndney Condron (attack); and freshmen Lizzy Guiffre (midfield), Isabella Lagazzi (goalie), Meg Matthis (midfield), and Emily Scheffler (midfield/defense).