Breaking down the 2024 girls lacrosse season for SouthCoast's eight teams
This spring should be a strong one for SouthCoast girls lacrosse.
Six out of the area's eight teams qualified for the playoffs a year ago and return several key players, including 2023 Standard-Times Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, Dartmouth's Grace Haskell, as well as six Super Teamers.
Dartmouth and Fairhaven are trying to defend their respective conference titles from a year ago while Apponequet and Old Rochester are looking to contend in the South Coast Conference Blue this spring with the league splitting into two divisions — Blue and Gold.
Here’s a look at SouthCoast’s eight girls lacrosse teams heading into the 2024 season:
SEASON PREVIEW: Breaking down the 2024 boys lacrosse season for SouthCoast's eight teams
APPONEQUET
Head coach: Cindy Cuthbertson
Last year’s record: 15-6
Top returners: Celia Hiller, Sr., A; Abby Bradley, Jr., M; Jayleigh Howarth, Jr., A; Addie Taylor, Jr., A/M; Cynthia Morales, Jr., D; Meredith Hayward, Jr., D; Cece Levrault., So., M; Ally Arruda, Jr., G; Amelia Menendez, So., D; Niamh Gallagher, Jr., A.
Key newcomers: Gracen Branco, So., D; Leah McGee, So., A; Emma Buckley, So., D; Claire Tomaszewski, Jr., D; Claire Lucey, So., A; Delaney McKay, Jr., A/D.
Outlook: With a strong core of returning players and some promising newcomers, Cuthbertson believes the Lakers can compete for the South Coast Conference title and make another deep tournament run after reaching the Div. 3 Elite 8 a year ago. “I’m hopeful and I’m optimistic,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of depth, but I feel like we have a pretty good returning core. I feel like we’re good in transition. That’s hopefully going to be a strength for us. The kids have played together for a while now.”
BISHOP STANG
Head coach: Alison Caito-Galligan
Last year’s record: 6-12
Top returners: Bella Baptiste, Sr., G; Caroline Eldridge, Sr., D; Maddie Azzara, Jr., D; Sofie Doucet, Jr., M; Teal Galligan, Sr., M; Julia Pelczarski, Sr., M; Molly Kearney, Sr., A; Ava Jackson, Jr., A; Caroline Hopkins, So., A; Sydney Plouffe, Jr., A.
Key newcomer: Ellie Jones, Jr., A/M/D.
Outlook: Caito-Galligan is hoping a tough schedule in the Catholic Central League and non-league will prepare the Spartans to make a little run in the Div. 3 tournament with an upperclassmen-laden team. “This group of girls wants to play as long as they can,” Caito-Galligan said. “They have the potential to have a good season.” Not only does Stang return its starting goalie from a year ago, they’ll look to have a balanced offensive attack led by Kearney, Plouffe and Doucet. “The girls are unselfish with their passing. We don’t rely on one player to score,” Caito-Galligan said. “Defensively, we’re young, but we do have talent.”
DARTMOUTH
Head coach: Nicole Simas
Last year’s record: 14-3
Top returners: Grace Haskell, Sr., M; Makai Vincent, Sr., M/D; Kallie Rose, Sr., A; Gabriella Velazquez, Sr., D; Sarah Kelly, Sr., M; Lauren Kelly, Sr., D; Madison Goldizen, Sr., A; Kayla McGee, Sr., A; Isabelle Seguin, Sr., A.
Key newcomers: Kyla Martin, Jr., A; Avery Smith, So., D; Arlene Johnson, Sr., G; Lily Gangi, So., D; Emerson White, So., A; Arden Dennehy, So., D.
Outlook: A veteran Dartmouth team, which features 10 seniors, is looking to contend for the conference title and make a deep run in the Div. 2 playoffs. “We’re definitely trying to chase our league title, but we’re taking it game by game,” Simas said. “Another goal is to make the postseason, but the league is alway our focus.” For Dartmouth, it all starts with Haskell, the 2022 Standard-Times Field Hockey Player of the Year, who recorded 102 points last spring. “Our midfield is the strength with Grace Haskell running that,” Simas said. “I’d say we’re also balanced on both sides of the field.” Dartmouth is dedicating this season to former player Ellie Cote’s mother, Margaret “Molly” Cote, who recently passed away. The team will be wearing “MC” on their sleeves. “She supported the program and we went to show our support,” Simas said. “It’s about more than lacrosse. This shows how important life is.”
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FAIRHAVEN
Head coach: Scott Francis
Last year’s record: 14-6
Top returners: Carlie Francis, Jr., M; Sophia Fleurent, Sr., A; Christina Pimentel, Sr., A; Ava Bissonnette, Sr., D; Ava Fernandes, Sr., D.
Key newcomers: Lauren Souza, So., A; Madi Lewis, Fr., A; Savannah Morris, Jr., M.
Outlook: The Blue Devils graduated six players from last year’s team that won the South Coast Conference championship and reached the Div. 3 Sweet 16 so there will be several new faces in key roles. “We’re inexperienced,” said Francis. “We only have four seniors on the whole team and we only have five juniors.” Francis expects Fairhaven to once again be strong on draw controls with Fleurent and Francis around the circle. “We did a pretty good job with them two last year,” he said. “I’m hoping that’s a strength again. If the season goes well, we might start slow, but finish well.” With the SCC splitting into two divisions, the Blue Devils will face Seekonk, Bourne and Somerset Berkley in the Gold. “Winning that is a goal,” Francis said.
GNB VOC-TECH
Head coach: Sydnie Gomes
Last year’s record: 2-16
Top returners: Ella Costa, Jr., M; Anissa Paiva, Jr., M; Abigail Ramos, Sr., D; Laila Pires, Jr., D; Taylor Pearson, So., A; Casalice Dias, Sr., G.
Key newcomers: Abageal McKeon, Fr., M; Gabby Barker, Fr., M; Lucy Beijar, Fr., D.
Outlook: In her second year with the team, Gomes expects the Bears to make strides this year with the return of several players and addition of promising freshmen. “We have freshmen coming in with experience,” she said. “We have a good group of girls coming in to add to the group of girls returning. They’re very versatile. It’s looking to be a better season than last year.” Voc-Tech has its sights set on making the postseason. “Our goal is to make the playoffs or at least the vocational tournament,” Gomes said. “I think they’re able to do that with how they are looking. I think our offense is going to be really strong this year.”
NEW BEDFORD
Head coach: Erin Rezendes
Last year’s record: 14-5
Top returners: Hannah Blanchard, Jr., M; Audrey Souza, So., M; Ashlynne Rysz, Jr., D; Anette Bennett-Tucker, Jr., G.
Key newcomers: Isabella Emile, So., A; Angilee Rodriguez, Jr., D; Peighton Sousa, Fr., D; Olivia Medeiros, Fr., M.
Outlook: The Whalers have some holes to fill with the graduation of six players from last year’s team that won 14 games. “We lost a lot of seniors and starters from last year so we’re building up the team,” said Rezendes. “We’re a fairly young team.” Even though New Bedford lacks experience, Rezendes has high expectations. “The team looks good so far,” she said. “We’re hoping for a similar record from last year and make the tournament. We’re working well together as a team with multiple options on offense.”
OLD COLONY
Head coach: Katie Cawley
Last year’s record: 7-11
Top returners: Abby Pitts, Sr., A; Logan Crook, Jr., M; McKenna Benoit, Sr., M; Lauren Lebeau, Jr., M; Zora Forcier, Sr., D; Rachel Willwerth, Sr., D.
Key newcomers: Jayleana Fernandes, So., G; Maddie Caulkins, So., A.
Outlook: With a veteran team, the Cougars are looking to qualify for the State Vocational playoffs and the MIAA tournament. “Team chemistry is a strength,” Cawley said. “They’re really working as one on defense and offense. They’re connecting really well. We have a good amount of seniors and juniors.”
OLD ROCHESTER
Head coach: Scott Tavares
Last year’s record: 13-7
Top returners: Caroline Brogioli, Jr., M; Kelly Quinlan, Sr., A; Lulu Johnson, Jr., M; Tessa Winslow, Jr., G; Amber Engel, Sr., D.
Key newcomers: Kate Thomsen, So., M; Erin Cardinal, Jr., A.
Outlook: The Bulldogs have enough talent and experience to contend for the South Coast Conference title and make a run in the tournament. Quinlan, who missed most of last season with an injury, is back and will add firepower on offense. “I expect us to be pretty solid,” said Tavares, whose team won 13 games last year. “We only lost two starters from last year so we’re an older group and we’re experienced. I’m expecting us to have a pretty competitive season.” Tavares said that ORR has a difficult schedule this season in hopes of being battle tested for the playoffs. “Every year our goal is always to try to win the conference first and we have a really competitive non-conference schedule so we’re trying as best as we can to make another run in the tournament,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2024 SouthCoast high school girls lacrosse season preview
