Womens lacrosse has faced some tough challenges, but despite that, they still go out and have fun while playing. The players have faced some tough opponents so far this season with some unexpected outcomes.
Michael Bagnasco, coach of the varsity girls lacrosse team, has been very proud of his team so far despite the losses.
“I am excited for the team this year. We have the toughest schedule we have ever faced. We wanted to get a good feel for playoff lacrosse by playing tough teams,” said Bagnasco. “They are a fun group of girls to be around.”
FVHS womens lacrosse has a record of 1-3 so far this season, but the losses don’t show how much improvement they have gained in their stick skills.
Bagnasco said, “As a team, our stick skills have improved but still have a long way to go if going to the finals is a goal of ours.”
During only the second game of the season, sophomore midfielder Lunna Murphy had a season ending injury. She is one of the team’s leading scorers and had an immense amount of lacrosse experience prior to the season. She is their lead draw taker (a player who gains possession of the ball during the draw) and is all around a positive player.
Murphy has been playing lacrosse since the third grade. She started playing in Florida before moving to North Carolina, playing with not only Bagnasco’s high school team but also playing for his travel team AFA (competitive lacrosse) year round.
“I think for me my biggest setback ever this season was in the second game about two weeks ago. I took a pretty bad hit, ending up with a broken collarbone which led to surgery, which led to my whole season being taken from me,” said Murphy. “Lacrosse for me is everything. For some, it’s just to have fun. It’s my outlet for everything, and practices and games are what I look forward to.”
The emotional toll of being sidelined due to injury is something a player has to struggle with throughout the recovery process.
“Not being able to take part in that mentally has been the biggest challenge I think I have faced so far, more than physically. There are many good sides to look at but being that this sport takes up most of my life, it feels as if a big chunk of me is missing right now. I’m hoping to come back soon and stronger than ever,” said Murphy.
Despite the losses, the entire team came back and won the third game against Panther Creek High School for Murphy.
“I’m proud of how they stayed strong and overcame adversity,” said Bagnasco.
One of the team’s captains, junior Gillian Gavette, has stepped up to be the lead draw taker now and is looking forward to the challenges.
“This season has required our coach to make some changes that he didn’t expect to make, such as making me our draw taker and making plays that some of the more inexperienced players must step up and execute,” said Gavette.
The varsity girls will play their fifth game of the season on Mar. 14, against Heritage High School at 6:00 p.m. Show up and support our Bengals as they take them on at Heritage.
