The girls lacrosse team charges into their season with a 1-0 record on the field.

With the first game in the same week as tryouts, the team has been working hard.

They perform many different exercises to improve  stamina, hand eye coordination and speed, like one-on-one or shooting exercises, while also improving their agility and stamina along with shot accuracy.

As the girls work hard at practice and at games, they build a family.

Junior goalie Julia Shepherd recognizes the impact of this community.

“Our team has a great environment,” Shepherd said. “We train very hard, but we also do fun games and team bonding, and it makes our team very close.”

This training, combined with fun exercises, provides the team with better learning opportunities and resources to help them overcome the challenges of the sport.

Senior Cara Zapach has played lacrosse since she was in fifth grade, which has given her a lot of experience playing the sport. She not only believes that the sport is physically challenging, but also mentally.

“It’s hard,” Zapach said. “It takes a lot of athleticism. It’s definitely a game of speed and skill, knowing when to do certain things. I feel like it’s a high IQ game.”

In the past four years, the team has never made it to states, but they hope to make it this year. The team has some promising talent.

“This year we have a really strong team with impressive new talent, and the foundation of the same strong team we had last year,” Shepherd said. “I think it will be the best year of my high school career so far.”

The team will continue to prepare to face their opponents head on in scrimmages to possibly gain admittance into the district championship.

“It just can be hard,” Zapach said. “Sometimes it’s the end of the year, and you really have to dig deep.”

As they build relationships, athletic skills and mental strength, they will hope to push through the season to get to district and state playoffs.