Since the start of the spring sports season, our Girls’ Lacrosse Team has had an impressive start to their season, with a record of seven wins and three losses, two of which came to teams ranked top three in the state. While their small defeats are disappointing, the team has come out stronger and ready for their remaining league games in the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL). What makes this team so strong and motivated to improve their game? To answer these important questions, team captain Abby Raymond (’25) and rising star Amaya Mulligan (’26) shared their experiences.
The team has had trouble against competitive opponents in the past, but this year they look ready to compete at an exceptional level. They have already beaten teams that they lost to previously, namely Menlo School. As a leader on and off the field, Raymond notes, “Last year when we played Menlo at home, we lost in sudden death overtime. We have already played them away at Menlo this year and we won 13-9.” The team is prepared to crush their opponents in the WBAL and in the upcoming postseason. Both Raymond and Mulligan attribute the team’s success to their incredible chemistry.
The team’s exceptional bond is due to the leadership of the upperclassmen. This season, the team has a whopping 14 seniors, which fills their entire starting lineup and then some. Raymond—a midfielder whose responsibility is to transition the ball down the field and assist the offensive players—says that she has loved building her team over the past few years. Both on and off the field, Raymond has full confidence in the team’s strength. Mulligan—an offensive player who makes quick decisions to score on the net—agrees that the senior’s chemistry contributes heavily to the team culture.
To keep momentum throughout the long, grueling season, the team engages in consistent traditions. They believe that doing fun things everyday allows all members of the team to engage with the sport and avoid burnout. Mulligan reports that her favorite activities are “doing matching hair on game days, team bonding at Abby’s house, and themed practices before games.” Raymond agrees that momentum is the most important thing to keep their team alive, saying her favorite traditions are “play[ing] ‘Stronger’ by Kanye West during warmups and getting hype in the locker room for most of our home games.”
Furthermore, the players on the bench are the loudest in terms of their chants, cheers, and supportive shouts during the games. Mulligan notes that “our junior goalie Ellie Cesena and I love yelling nonstop during the draw,” referring to the faceoff between opponents at the start of each half and after every point.
The team is ready to conquer any competition that comes their way. Raymond says that “the game that [she is] most excited for is Senior Night against Menlo. I think that when we play them at home, it is going to be a really good and intense game of lacrosse.” This game will not only be an exciting challenge for the whole team, but also a final push before the seniors’ college journeys.
Come support the rest of the team’s games this season!
