Speed, Experience Add to Great Expectations for Girls' Lacrosse Team

Thanks in large part to its talented midfield players, the Brewster girls' lacrosse squad is expecting success this season.

Manning the midfield are all-elite and all-section players from a year ago, sophomores Lindsay Biondi and Kristen Ohberg, junior all-elite honorable mention Megan Yarusso, junior Jess Blumberg and sophomore Kelly Chadnick.

The girls have been playing together since their early elementary school years, which is why they have great chemistry with one another, Ohberg said.

Blumberg agreed.

“We have a lot of speed," Blumberg said. “We are all around the same age. We have been playing together for a number of years, and because of that we know where each other will be on the field and where we want the ball.”

Playing key roles in the attack position are juniors Elizabeth Lleshaj and sophomore Lauren DiTaranto.

“They can shoot from either the right or left side, they know the game,” Blumberg said. “We are running a new diamond offense and they know how to run it very well. They do a good job in getting by the defenders.”

Senior Ellie Lestrange and juniors Britney Frates and Jessie Turrin are solid defensive players who know what it takes to play their positions and work well together.

Backing them up in goal is talented junior Virginia Rose Kaschura.

“We have great expectations,” Blumberg said. “I think this is the most talent we have had here at Brewster for girls' lacrosse. Now we just have to go out there and play.”

Ohberg also believes this is the most talented team that the Bears have put on the field in years.

“We have a lot of good talent this year,” Ohberg said. “I agree with her [Blumberg] that we have the most talent we ever had, because everybody is stronger at each position.”

Ohberg said that players coming together as one will go a long way in determining if the Bears can reach their vast potential.

“I believe team bonding is going to be the key,” Ohberg said. “We still have a lot of work to do on trusting that the person on the field beside us is going to be there. Once we get that down, we will be tough to beat.”

The Bears got off to a rough start in their opener on March 30, losing at John Jay 14-3.  To be fair, though, they were going against a John Jay squad which led Section 1 last year with 17.4 goals per game.

Brewster gave a great defensive effort in the first half, holding the host to just five goals before John Jay’s immense offensive talent, led by All-American and Northwestern-bound Casey Bocklet, who registered a game-high four goals and three assists, took over.

Brewster will look to rebound in its home opener when it hosts North Salem on Wednesday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m..