Ashland first-year coach Jessica Spencer is hoping to return the girls’ lacrosse team back into the Division 2 East Tournament, a place they haven’t been since the 2015 season. The Clockers went 10-7-1 that season and earned a 12 seed in the tournament but fell to Wayland 12-8.
In getting back to the tournament, Spencer will have a tough road ahead. The new coach is taking over a squad that lost a lot of senior talent, and will open the season with a very young team playing in a tough Tri Valley League.
“Ideally, I would love this team to get back to the tournament,” the coach said. “But being such a young team with limited numbers is going to be hard.”
Senior Lexi Maher will be taking the team draws from her center position and the coach will be relying on her heavily to push the Clockers in the right direction.
“She knows the field and has all the skills needed to lead this team,” Spencer said. “She’s the backbone of the team and we need her if we want to win.”
Through two games this season, Maher has already found the back of the net on numerous occasions, including a six spot against Holliston. If the senior continues to beat the opposition’s goalie on a regular basis, teams are eventually going to have to start keying on her.
If it gets to that point, Ashland will begin using Maher as a decoy and senior captain Maggie Parisi and junior Abby O’Donnell will be looked upon to pick up the scoring slack. Maher, Parisi and O’Donnell were the team’s three top scorers in the attack zone and our offense will run through them.
Defensively senior captain Kaylee Keveny will be the Clocker’s defensive leader. According to Spencer, the senior reads the field well and is very helpful with positioning players on the field.
Sophomore Lily Orr, who is brand new to the sport of lacrosse, is the squad’s last line of defense patrolling the goal.
“Lily is a varsity soccer goalie who decided to play lacrosse this year, and we’re hoping that she can pick it up quickly,” Spencer said. “She already sees the field well but is still working on the basics. Through the early goings, she has let some goals in, but it’s not all her; it has to do with the defense, too.”
One big surprise so far is freshman Jessica Hill, who originally opened the season as a swing player between the junior varsity and varsity.
“Through the first two games, she has really impressed me with her midfield play; she is not only fast but has already shown she has the stick skills to be successful,” the coach said.
Although it would be great to have the seniors wrap up their lacrosse careers at Ashland with a trip to the State Tournament, the team knows it may not be feasible this season.
“Most of the girls are on board knowing that it’s going to be a rather tough year,” Spencer said. “I’m sure the seniors would be disappointed in not making the tournament, but it’s not totally out of the question. If the younger players step up their game, there is a chance.”
Whether Ashland is able to extend its season or not, Spencer is hoping that one way or another the senior players will leave the younger girls full of knowledge for the future.
Issue Date:
May, 2017
Article Body:
Column: