To say the Wooster High girls lacrosse team enjoyed marked improvement last year would be an understatement. From 4-12 mark in coach Kyle Barnes first season to a huge turnaround 12-4 in her second, the Generals became a force to contend with. Now they are looking to continue that success into the coming season.
Our goal is the same every year, said Barnes. We never use a statistic or a number of wins – our goal is to form a unified team. Every year we start from scratch and hopefully by the end of the year well have a team.
The goal is to put the attitudes aside, bring your lunch and go to work. Were all here to do the same job.
While the roster numbers arent what Barnes is looking for with only 30 girls on the team, We are worlds ahead of last year fundamentally.
We did a nice job working on our stick skills in the offseason, said Barnes, reflecting on the two previous seasons. I remember doing some drills and doing a number of passing drills and we couldnt put more than two passes together. The girls did their work over the winter.
Our conditioning has gone well. Its hard, but they are not really complaining. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
The Generals have some holes to fill, but return seven seniors and 10 juniors as they gear up for their season opener on March 30. One spot that takes on added importance is in goal where Leah Manges must be replaced. A junior, Emily Zimmerman, will get the call in that position.
Were going to miss Leah she is the one that really counts, said Barnes. But, Emily is pretty experienced and were looking at her to do great things. I trust Emily. Defense is our starting point If we can hold an offense to zero, we only have to score once. I put everything into our defense.
A trio of seniors, Hannah Peters, Juli Ressler and co-captain Elyse Freeman, will be counted on to firm up the defense, along with first-year senior Sabrina Bias.
In the midfield, senior co-captain Rachel Ickes and sophomore Kara Dagley will be counted on in the middle of the field, along with juniors Jillian Murphy and Tori Massaro.
In the attack, Allison Canfield, a sophomore, has made an early impression in an area where the Generals must find some scoring power to replace Jess Fugate, who found the back of the net more than 40 times before taking her game to Gannon University.
(Jess) is starting at center for Gannon and she scored two goals in her first game, said Barnes. Were going to miss her, but we also had a team around her last year.
And that is what Barnes is looking to create this year and fill the holes around the returning vets.
We have 11 people who have similar stick skills, 11 people with similar athletic ability and 11 people with similar stamina, said Barnes. I told them they are all good lacrosse players, but none stand out. I told them someone needed to break out of the pack.
When that happens, good things could happen.
Our schedule is comparative to last year, said Barnes. I dont see many teams beating us. We have a lot of girls who have played the sport and we spent time over the winter (getting ready).
Wooster opens its season at home at Maurer Field against Beaumont March 30, and then hosts Brunswick the next night.
