Three Seasons Equal Three Championships at Montrose School

Teamwork, drive and adaptability on the field best describe 2012 varsity lacrosse season.

With an undefeated, 9-0 record, the Mavericks claimed the 2012 Independent Girls Conference league championship title, winning their final game of the season against Brimmer & May School, 18- 11, and beating Waring School’s almost flawless record.

The IGC lacrosse season is short and playoffs are impossible. Therefore, the team with the best record in the league is named league champion. For the Mavericks, it came down to their last game. Both Montrose and Waring had impressive records, 8-0 and 7-1 respectively. Had Montrose lost their final game and Waring won, there would have been a tie. But like the rest of their impeccable season, Montrose didn’t lose.

Montrose varsity lacrosse coach Pauline Irwin credits her players’ commitment to teamwork and drive to win for their outstanding season.

“What impressed me most about the players' performance was their teamwork in running the plays and their ability to read the defense and change up the plays as needed. Their intensity and desire to win was also remarkable,” said Irwin.

Irwin also noted that the team worked hard all season and steadily improved as the season progressed, “having fun and encouraging each other along the way.” 

To get her players thinking about working together from the start, Irwin asked her players at the beginning of the season to write down what they think it means to be on a team and what makes a good teammate. One of the senior lacrosse captains made a reference to seventh grade when the Montrose student government chose the theme of “teamwork” for that particular school year.

She tried to remember what acronym for “team” the Student Government executives had given the student body.  One of her teammates, a junior, piped up, remembering from 6th grade that Student Government had said, “TEAM means ‘Together Everyone Achieves More.’”

Five years later that same acronym, which resonated so deeply with students, would apply on the lacrosse field. “This year's varsity team embodied the definition of team. I am proud of every one of them,” said Irwin.

The IGC selected five All League Players from the Montrose team: Jaimie Hartwell ’12 (of Ashland), Olivia Walker ’12 ( of Wellesley), Katherine Casey ’13 ( of Franklin), Mary Beth Irwin ’13 (of Norwood), and Elle Schirripa ’15 ( of Lexington).

In addition, the league named two Montrose players as NEPSAC (New England Prep School Athletic Conference) All Stars: Katherine Casey ’13 (of Franklin) and Mary Beth Irwin ’13 (of Norwood). It is an honor to be selected into NEPSAC; it demonstrates Montrose School’s competitiveness among prep schools across New England. As NEPSAC All Stars, Katherine and Mary Beth had the opportunity to play in the NEPSAC All-Star game at Holy Cross on Sunday, May 20 with other lacrosse stars from prep schools throughout New England. 

For the second year in a row, Mary Beth Irwin tried out for and made the Lower New England Team.  375 players were nominated by their coaches in order to try out, and 125 girls made it onto the five New England teams. These teams will compete the weekend of June 2-3 in the National Lacrosse Tournament, which is being held at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY.  Mary Beth will compete against teams from all over the US.

As the 2011-2012 athletic season comes to a close, Montrose is celebrating championship seasons across the board. The Montrose Mavericks are thrilled to add this latest Varsity Lacrosse victory to their 2011 soccer and 2012 basketball championships.

Montrose in an independent, college preparatory day school with a Catholic tradition, for girls in grades 6-12. Located on 14 acres in the heart of Medfield, Montrose serves young women from over 45 towns throughout the Metro West and South Shore as well as international students from all over the world. For more information, visit MontroseSchool.org.