By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Goffstown High School’s Sarah Smith, a freshman, outruns her John Stark foe for a ground ball during the Grizzlies’ recent 6-4 win over the Generals.

In its first year as a club team, the Goffstown girls lacrosse squad has shown it can play under pressure.

On May 8, the Lady Grizzlies defeated rival John Stark’s junior varsity club, 6-4, despite a scheduling mix-up that left the girls with only minutes to prepare for the match.

Originally slated to play at 5 p.m. after the boys finished their 3:30 p.m. start, the Grizzlies learned the games had been switched, leaving head coach Jess Brown wondering if her team could execute her game plan an hour and a half earlier.

“I had no clue we were switched ’til the last minute,” said Brown. “The girls were great though. They just came out and started warming up as if nothing had changed. I was more stressed than they were.”

Brie Willander, Brianna Whitmore and Lorena Bouroncle scored in the first half for the Grizzlies, who took a 3-2 lead at the break.

Brown said watching her team develop from an unsure, unconfident squad at the start of the season to the poised, disciplined team she currently coaches has been amazing.

She added playing a mixture of club, JV and varsity teams has been a positive challenge for the Grizzlies. Constantly facing different skill levels allows her girls to focus only on their strengths.

As coach of Goffstown’s girls field hockey team, many of Brown’s lax players are on her field hockey roster. Coaching multi-sport athletes made it easier for Brown to place higher expectations on her first-time players.

In the second half against Stark, the Grizzlies were led by Whitmore, who came up with another goal, and junior Christine Bartlett, who netted two goals. Bouroncle and Meighan Cassin each dished out one assist.

While the girls practiced pregame passing and catching, Brown turned her efforts to protecting one of the team’s rituals in spite of the early start.

Before each game, Brown and the players rotate bringing a different colored ribbon for each player to wear in their hair. With the early start, Brown scrambled to find enough pink ribbons for her girls.

“Brittany Caron used to do it with another team,” said Brown. “So she started it here, and now we each bring one to a different game. It’s a nice team unity thing. It keeps us together and shows our team spirit.”

Brown added she has noticed the hard work, day in and day out, also brings the girls together.

As of Monday, May 8, the Grizzlies are 2-5-1, but two of the five losses were by one goal.

The coach said losing close games is also a positive.

“We’re learning the game,” said Brown. “This is a new sport for all of us, including me, but we’re doing things on and off the field which are helping us master the little nuances of the game.”