Offense will have to carry early
Abby Converse has been a three-sport athlete for all four years she has spent at Woodstock Academy. This spring will be the senior’s last.
For a second year in a row, Converse will serve as a captain for the Centaurs’ girls’ lacrosse team, joining four others in that role.
“It hasn’t kicked in yet but I think once we get halfway through the season, it will be like ‘Oh man, it’s senior year of high school and it’s almost over,’” Converse said.
She will not be the only one in that category.
Maggie Marshall, Abby Houle, M.J. Banderas and Kaelyn Tremblay are also waiting for June 14 to come around when they will don the cap and gown and move on to the next step in their lives.
But for the next couple of months, lacrosse will occupy a lot of their spare time.
Second-year coach Heather Miller has 30 players out for the two programs, varsity and JV, this season which is just about enough for both.
But it may have to be the offense that will have to shine early.
The defense is young and untested so it will be up to the likes of juniors Kaylee Saucier (11 goals, 7 assists), and Clara Dowdle (7 goals, 3 assists) as well as Converse (6 goals, 2 assists) to not only score but to maintain possession of the ball and take pressure off the defense. The three will serve as captains alongside Avery Nielsen and Houle.
“We definitely put a lot on our defense last year and like coach has said, ‘It starts with the draw.’ I know myself and a couple of others will be working hard to win more of those and just maintain possession,” Saucier said.
That is something that was questionable last year.
“I have every confidence and faith in them. I’m excited to see Kaylee and Clara grow more into leadership roles, because this is the first time they’ve both been captains. They are talented. They have the knowledge and speed. They have strong stick skills and I think it will be good with them, Kaelyn, and Maggie up front. Even in preseason, their throwing and catching — which was a problem last season because we dropped too many balls — has improved,” Miller said.
Saucier, who also plays soccer and basketball, said she has put more time into the sport.
Miller is giving her attack players a little more flexibility this season.
“I’m giving them creative space at practice to make up their own plays, be creative, have fun with it, but also take ownership of it so we aren’t the same as everyone else,” Miller said.
Woodstock did struggle a bit last season as it had just one win in 16 games. So there is room for some experimentation.
Miller is a trying something to shore up the defense a bit as she has decided to employ a backer zone strategy.
The Centaurs will need a steadfast defense as Houle, their only experienced keeper, suffered a preseason injury and is hoping to play as soon as possible. Freshman Grace Audet has stepped into that role for now.
“The girls set the goal for four wins. For us, that would be great. I think it’s a very realistic goal and one that they can make,” Miller said.
So far, so good. “I’m really liking what I’m seeing. We worked on draws, our new backer ‘D’ which is looking very nice so far and we already have some plays made up in our attack,” Converse said. The journey begins on Saturday as the Centaurs go on the road to play at 10 a.m. At Killingly.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
caption:
The girls’ lacrosse team will not lack leadership as it will have five captains including, from left: Avery Nielsen, Abby Houle, Abby Converse and Kaylee Saucier. Clara Dowdle was not available for the photo. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.