In Maryland, a hotbed for lacrosse, there is no such thing as an easy win. Every game is a scrap, and victories are earned only after hard-fought battles.
North Hagerstown and Smithsburg learned this fact in real time last spring, with the programs combining for five wins.
But hope always springs eternal at the start of a new season, when every team begins their campaign with a 0-0 record. The Hubs and Leopards, along with Chambersburg in Pennsylvania, all have reasons to believe they can increase their win totals from a year ago.
Before the spring season kicks off, Local.News1 will spend the next several days previewing multiple sports from the seven teams in our coverage area: Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, Chambersburg, Fairfield, North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown and Smithsburg.
Today our focus is on girls lacrosse, with other spring sports set to be previewed in the days to come.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each of the three girls lacrosse teams in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Keara Allshouse
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Last season: The Trojans played to a 2-16 overall record, which includes a 2-16 mark in the Commonwealth.
Top projected returners: Reagan Barrett (So., Attack/Mid), Mara Costolo (Sr., Mid), Brianna Keefer-Fanny (Jr., Goalie), McKenna Myers (Sr., Mid/Defense), Mollie Yardley-Gontz (So., Attack/Mid), Ellie Sarvis (Sr., Mid)
Notable: Chambersburg will be aiming to build off a two-win season that saw the Trojans earn victories over Mifflin County (16-1) and CD East (17-4) … Chambersburg scored 111 goals last spring, while allowing 264 … The Trojans lost a key player to graduation in Gabriella Sabatino, who recorded 26 goals and eight assists last season and is now playing collegiately at the University of Charleston … The loss of Sabatino means more of the goal-scoring workload will fall on the shoulders of Reagan Barrett, who posted 36 goals and nine assists as a freshman.
Opener: Monday, March 17, at Cumberland Valley
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Rick Aleshire
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: The Hubs were 3-10 last spring, with their season ending with a 19-8 loss to Frederick in the MPSSAA Class 3A West II Region Quarterfinals.
Top projected returners: Sadie Morton (So., Mid), Sophie Lobley (Jr., Attack/Defense)
Notable: North Hagerstown will have to find a way to navigate this season without the services of graduated playmakers Avery Byard, Sydney Emerson, and Riley Lutz, three players who combined for 107 goals and 36 assists last spring … The Hubs will also be looking to replace top-notch defender Marrin King, who was lost to graduation … North Hagerstown’s top returning player is Sadie Morton, a midfielder who recorded 32 goals, 11 assists, 39 draw controls, and 31 ground balls as a freshman last season.
Opener: Tuesday, March 25, at home vs. Francis Scott Key
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Allison Avey
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: Smithsburg posted a 2-12 record last season, with their campaign coming to a close with a 19-0 loss to Middletown in the MPSSAA Class 1A Region II Semifinals.
Top projected returners: Maren McFarland (Sr., Defense), Zoe Dixon (So., Mid), Grace Ellis (Sr., Mid), Kendra Wilkinson (Sr., Goalie).
Notable: Smithsburg will be leaning on the leadership of ball-hawking defender Maren McFarland, who accounted for 42 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers last season … The Leopards will have to make do this spring after losing a talented group of seniors that included Bridget Hays, Olivia Kretsinger, and Danica Radaker … Smithsburg earned two wins last season, both of which came over Brunswick.
Opener: Tuesday, March 25, at home vs. Tuscarora
