The girls varsity lacrosse team started their season strong with a 13-10 win over the Newton South Lions at Downes Field on Saturday, March 29. Despite a slight drizzle and cold temperatures, supporters and parents lined the field to watch the Warriors play their first game of the season.

The game started off rocky as the Lions won the first draw and managed to score within the first two minutes of the game. However, off the next draw, senior and captain Birdie Hawkins scooped up the ball and the Warriors worked it up the field in a series of strong passes.

Sophomore Lily Kleinbaum passed to junior Clara Thibault, who managed to get the Warriors their first goal and tie the game up. Shortly after, senior and captain Maggie Teahan picked up the ball and outran several Lions to score another goal.

Teahan said she was proud of both her performance and the performance of the team as a whole.

“I was getting fired up, determined,” Teahan said. “I just really wanted to work with my teammates, and obviously, this was a winnable game so we all wanted to give it our best.”

Teahan and Hawkins brought the majority of the pressure on offense, working with each other to get a goal. Off a pass from Teahan, Hawkins sent in a powerful low shot to score another point for the Warriors.

On defense, the Warriors shut down three shots from the Lions and then worked the ball back up the field, where Hawkins scored for the second time, bringing the score to 4-1, Warriors.

The Lions stole the ball from the Warriors off of the next draw and managed to score, however, the Warriors responded quickly with a goal of their own.

In the final minutes of the first quarter, junior Priscila Hill had a strong run up the field but was unable to shoot. The Lions gained possession of the ball and counterattacked. Sophomore goalie Carinn Bueno blocked the shot, but the Lions maintained possession, shooting again and scoring within the next ten seconds. The first quarter ended 5-3 for the Warriors.

Senior Sydney Bueno Linn said she played well for the first game of the season and is excited to see what else is in store for the Warriors.

“I’m just really excited for this season,” Bueno Linn said. “I feel like since I’m a senior, it’s kind of bittersweet because I’m playing for the last time, but honestly, we just have such a great group of girls this season.”

A few minutes into the second quarter, a foul was called on the Lions, and the Warriors were awarded a free shot. Teahan took the shot and sent the ball low and hard into the back of the net. Shortly after, the Lions managed to score a similar goal off a penalty shot.

The Warriors responded with two goals, one from Kleinbaum and one from Teahan. With just over a minute left in the quarter, the Lions also scored twice, bringing the score at halftime to 8-7, Warriors.

The rain intensified from mist to drizzle at the start of the third quarter, but the Warriors did not give up, scoring a goal and closing down several Lion attacks. Teahan scored another goal at the end of the quarter, bringing the score to 10-7, Warriors.

The Warriors won the ball off the draw at the beginning of the fourth quarter. After a series of strong passes, Hawkins sent a low shot past the Lions’ goalie, establishing a four-point lead for the Warriors.

The Lions gained possession of the ball and swiftly attacked, but were fouled by the Warriors in the process. The Lions were awarded a free shot, which was saved by Bueno, but they managed to stay on the offensive and sent in another shot, which resulted in a goal. The Warriors regained possession, and Hawkins passed to Teahan, who spun, shot and scored yet another goal for the Warriors, bringing the score to 12-8.

The intensity stayed high in the last five minutes of the game. The Lions scored, then Kleinbaum scored off of a penalty shot. The Lions won another goal in the final ten seconds, but were unable to capture the lead, and the game ended in a 13-10 Warriors victory.

Head coach Julianna Molloy said she thought the team delivered a strong performance.

“The girls showed a lot of resilience, fighting all the way through the end of the game,” Molloy said. “I think our seniors really stepped up and showed a lot of leadership today, and a lot of positivity through the whole game.”

Sydney Bueno Linn said she thought the team played well, especially for the first game of the season.

“I know a lot of people were really nervous, but I thought we played such a great game,” Bueno Linn said. “We came out strong. We ended strong. I’m just really proud of all the girls.”

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ALEXA LIEBERMAN/CYPRESS STAFF

The girls varsity lacrosse team started their season in stride, winning 13-10 to the Newton South Lions at Downes Field on Saturday, March 29.