Sports
VIDEO: Lax Women Looking for Ipswich Win, Tournament Berth
With a new coach and plenty of enthusiasm, the Hamilton-Wenham girls' lacrosse team is ready to return to the state tournament in 2011.
has a new girls’ lacrosse coach for the 2011 season, but the goal is the same as every year - beat Ipswich and make it to the state tournament.
Coach Amanda Chase welcomed 41 girls to practice last week. Chse will be leading a team that finished 14-5 last season in the Cape Ann League Small division.
The Generals finished behind undefeated Triton last year, but made the Vikings miserable when they knocked them out of the state tournament in the second round. The girls handed Triton its only loss of the year with the playoff win.
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“It was an emotional win, a great win for us, one of the best games of my life,” senior co-captain Hannah Chmura said after practice last Wednesday.
Hamilton-Wenham made it to the semifinals before falling to Winchester in last year’s playoffs.
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Chmura will anchor the defense, while senior co-captain Katie Flores hopes to improve on the 16 goals she scored in the 2010 season.
“So far, so good, the girls have been great, they’re working very hard,” Chase said. “It’s great to finally get outdoors and work on our game.”
Chase played lacrosse at , and came to Hamilton-Wenham after coaching in North Carolina. She played college lacrosse at the University of New England.
“One of the things we’ve got going for us is leadership from the seniors, and a great intensity level,” Chase said. “The captains are great, the girls are really working hard to get ready for Manchester-Essex.”
Twenty girls will suit up for the varsity team this season, with the remaining girls filling out the JV roster for coach Pennie Fraczek.
The season kicks off on Monday, April 4 at 3:45 p.m. with the Generals on the road against Manchester-Essex.
