On April 11th, the Malden Girls’ Lacrosse Team displayed a diligent effort against Lowell as their communication skills were challenged.
The game started with high hopes, the team cheering each other on during their first faceoff. Starting off strong, senior captain Jeslyn San scored Malden’s first goal, setting the tone of determination for the remainder of the game.
A strong dynamic could be seen amongst the main offensive players and midfielders San, Makenzie Jenkins, and sophomore Nyla Pierre. “I think the dynamic between Nyla, Jeslyn, and me provides a potent attack with the addition of our teammates providing support, although there is potential, hard work is required to reach that level,” Jenkins detailed. The strength of this dynamic could be seen when Pierre scored Malden’s second goal of the game nearly two minutes later.
Despite a strong defense and effort from goalie and Head of Sports Gabriella Parini Cordova, who blocked various back-to-back shots, Lowell could sneak two goals in during the last seconds of the first quarter, scoring 4-2.
Defense instantly began applying the coaching given to them after the first quarter by being more vocal as the second quarter began. “I think that the first quarter the team’s performance was a bit rocky, and we got it right back together during the second quarter,” sophomore Kamani Gomes described.
Lowell had recurring possession of the ball for the first couple of minutes of the quarter, using the tactic of passing the ball around the 8-meter line of the net, trying to find the best position for players to cut in and score. Jenkins expressed her confidence in their defense strategies, “Personally, I believe our overall team has so much promise, especially our defense. With the right dedication and commitment, I believe our defense could completely transform. Although in that game our defense exhibited strong defensive capability and were highly communicative, that game was what a good team needs in order to win.”
Halfway through the second quarter, Malden had yet to score agai,n and Lowell had already added three more goals to their tally, bringing the score to 7-3. Greedy for a goal, Pierre gained possession of the ball and made it downfield, securing Malden’s third goal of the game with three minutes remaining before halftime.
After an inspiring group huddle, Malden returned to the field hungry to score. Despite collisions getting in their way, the team was persistent in their defensive efforts. However, they were met with harsh offenses and instances of illegal physical contact.
Freshman Leeann San waiting to receive a pass from an inbounding ball. EMILLY WEIHRAUCH
Attributed to their performance in the midfield, Lowell was able to score another four goals, ending the third quarter 12-3. Senior captain Abigail Lee explained what contributed to the team’s mood: “At that point, a lot of our team was either on the verge of quitting or had already quit, so it was hard getting the dynamic down.”
The energy amongst the team began lagging as the cold weather and fatigue started getting to their spirits. While the score resulted in 17-3, the loss provided a learning opportunity for the team. “After this game, we’ve been able to work on our motions and plays on offense and really practice on our own individual skills to improve on for our overall game,” Jenkins concluded.
