The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team ended last year with a 6-13 overall record. They were the 22nd seed in the Division 2 state tournament, where they lost to Ashland (11-9, 11th seed), 10-5, in the Round of 32.
Coach Annie Madden’s team started practicing for the 2024 season last week, and the veteran mentor foresees a team full of hard-working players who are willing to push one another to get better.
“There is still a lot of room for playing opportunities for anyone who comes ready to play hard and has the ability to make things happen,” she said. “We even have players trying different positions to find the right fit to create a successful team.”
Madden welcomed 43 players to the first day of practice on March 18. Susannah Forbes is her varsity assistant coach, while Jess Gambale is in charge of the JV squad. Rachel Leavitt and Kevin Driscoll are the goaltending coaches.
Kate Burns, fresh off from leading the girls basketball team to the postseason, and Caroline Scroope are the 2024 girls lacrosse captains.
“Both captains have already established a standard of hard work and excellence, setting an immediate positive tone for the season,” Madden said.
The Marblehead girls were scheduled to take part in a jamboree at Lexington on Saturday, March 23. It was to feature a series of 20-minute games against the likes of Framingham, Algonquin, Wayland, Reading and Austin Prep. They were then set to welcome Hamilton-Wenham to town yesterday (March 26) for another scrimmage.
The Magicians will have a veteran varsity presence with 10 seniors on the roster this spring.
“They are already setting the standard of hard work and excellence for their younger teammates,” said Madden. “They are the leaders we need to help bring our younger players onboard in order to understand the culture of Marblehead girls lacrosse. They are stepping up and teaching them what it means to be a part of a team.”
Madden’s girls will begin the regular season on the road at Woburn tomorrow (March 28), starting at 4 p.m. They will then head to Manchester-Essex to face the Hornets in another non-league game on Monday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m.
