By now, everybody in Division I girls’ lacrosse is aware that when you see the Londonderry High Lady Lancers on your schedule, you have to be prepared for a battle of epic proportions.
Coach Mike Boyle’s LHS crew will get its 2014 underway against the Nashua High South Lady Purple Panthers in Londonderry next Friday, April 18, holding firmly in its collective mind that all of the success it achieves this spring will come through teamwork and consistency.
Since winning consecutive Division I championships in 2009, 2010, and 2011 under veteran coach Bob Slater, the Lady Lancers have gone two years without a crown. But everyone in the division is well aware that Londonderry is a perennial upper-echelon team that is capable of winning the entire shooting match every season.
Boyle’s bunch came close to going to the championship match again last spring, falling to the eventual champs from Pinkerton Academy by the slimmest of margins (8-7) in the tournament semifinals. The Lady Lancers were the number three seed in the tourney after compiling a fine 12-5 regular season record.
Seven players graduated from that LHS team, including standout goaltender Sarah Ford. But the Londonderry crew is still loaded with talent and more than determined to make another intense push for the peak of the D-I mountain.
The locals have a slew of key returnees back in their fold, including defenders Jenna Conroy, Rachel Stevens (both juniors), and Sarah Jackes (a sophomore); midfielders Maeve Holland (a senior bound for the University of Richmond on an athletic scholarship), Noelle Lambert, Sarah Bell (juniors), Breda Holland, and Gabbi Morris (sophomores), and attacks Alexa Bedell, Hannah Kearney, Molly Koon (all seniors) and Chelsea Lewis (junior).
Other returnees from the 2013 contingent include senior goalie Emily Holtshouser, defenders Kristen Bates (senior) and Mariah Eacrett (junior), and middies Niki Skov (junior) and Dominique Breault (sophomore).
Newcomers to the Lady Lancers’ varsity fold include junior keeper Michaela Kewley, junior middies Michelle Hennessey and Jackie Curtin, sophomore midfielders June Cranmer and Jill McIntire, and freshman defender Sami Lecaroz.
When asked what opposing teams concern him most, Boyle responded in his inimitable way saying, “We look forward to playing all of our lacrosse sisters in divisions one and two. Our efforts against these teams will only make the Londonderry tribe stronger.”