First Game Jitters

The effort was there, the result just didn’t follow suit.

On Wednesday the girls lacrosse team opened its season, but did so with a 12-6 loss to Masconomet at Shawsheen Elementary School.

Still, head coach Maura Kee was optimistic following the tilt.

“I thought movement up the ball was great. Their communication has come tenfold since we started and that’s huge in lacrosse,” she said. “I think it’s just confidence. When they’re on the ball, ready to go, and believe what we work on in practice and what they can do, they’re unstoppable.”

The visitors added several goals late in the first half and pushed their edge to 11-3 early in the second stanza.

Amanda Keane put home a sensational goal in front of the net to halt the Masco scoring streak about 13 minutes into the second half.

Keane, also a standout basketball player, leapt with her stick extended straight up, hauled in a pass and shot it all in one motion. The attempt went under the Masco goalie and cut the deficit to 11-4.

Fiona Gately made it 11-5 shortly after when she cashed in on a restart, but with about seven minutes to play, Masco added another tally.

Before the final horn sounded, Nicole D’Agostino found the back of the net for a goal of her own, but it wasn’t enough for the Wildcats.

“You could see (first game nerves) in the dropped passes and the ground balls not being picked up. That just happens. It’ll come with experience,” said Kee, who has high expectations for her team. “I want to go to the tournament and so do the girls, so that’s our goal – a winning season and tournament play.”