Although the spring sports season has just begun, the Saint Francis Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team has started this year off with numerous impressive victories. The Lancers went 3-1 in their preseason, with big wins against Palo Alto High School and Gunn High School. The team also recently won their first league game, and the Lancers have an amazing season ahead of them. There are many different elements that go into the success of any sports team, and every team is unique. So what are the different aspects that contribute to the accomplishments of our lacrosse team?
Practice is especially crucial in a team sport like lacrosse. Not only do players practice individual skills such as shooting and cradling, but they also practice passing, positioning, and game-like play. Sometimes, practices can go late into the evenings, but the team remains committed to getting better at their sport. Practice starts with a warmup and dynamic stretches, followed by a player-favorite “circle stretch.” At every practice, players stretch in a circle and answer a “question of the day,” which allows players to share something about themselves and learn more about each other. This helps strengthen relationships amongst the players on the team.
The girls’ lacrosse team makes an effort to create a truly inclusive environment and a tight-knit community. With players across all grade levels, team-bonding is vital to forming connections off the field, which then translates to their synergy on the field. Mason Thomas (’25) notes that “We do lots of team bonding activities throughout the season to make sure we all get to know each other. We go on hikes and have team dinners. It makes for a great team dynamic that shows on and off the field.”
The team also has numerous traditions that make them unique and help bring lightheartedness to serious practices. Oftentimes, playing a Varsity sport can be very serious and centered around winning, so it is important to have moments of fun and find a balance. Thomas says that her favorite tradition is “having ‘themed practices’ the practice before a game.” For example, “we get to dress up in fun themes like ‘Dress like Doug,’ our coach who wears groutfits and puffers, or ‘Saint Patrick’s Day’ [where] we dress in green and play fun music to match the theme.” This gives players something else to look forward to before game days and helps bring the team closer together.
Although there have not been many games so far this season, one significant game for the Lancers was their huge win against rival Archbishop Mitty High School. It was their home opener and first league game of this year. Thomas says, “Our team worked together to pull off the big 14-3 win,” with goals from seven different Lancers. She adds, “It proved that our hard work [during] all of preseason was paying off.”
Come root for the lacrosse team throughout the rest of their season as they continue through league-play into the postseason, and make sure to look out for rage-cage themes to show your support!
