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Girls Lacrosse Preview

Last year, the Westminster Girls Lacrosse team was the best in the history of the program. They placed third in the state, losing to MICDS, who ended up winning state. The 19-5 Wildcats had a ten game win streak during midseason, showing a side of the Lacrosse team that no one has ever seen before. The key to the team last year: the abundance of seniors. This year, after losing over half of the varsity team, the team strives to rebuild with new varsity players looking to make themselves known on the field. Though difficult, this team’s trust remains high with a brand new coach.

The team this year will have only seven returning players, three of which are seniors this year and the remaining four are juniors.

Two of these returning players are the goalkeepers: Reese Earleywine and Katelynn Graham. The two goalies had a combined save total of 169 during last years season, and they hope to only improve that during this seasons contest. However, Katelynn Graham will be playing most of her minutes on the offensive side of things, becoming a field player for her first varsity season. This will allow Reese to get the majority of playing time in the goal. Being the goalie, Reese has her eyes wide open on the field, and so far in practice, she says she truly can see the team clicking and getting ready for the season.

“I think we will have a great year this year,” says Earleywine. “We have an awesome group of hard-workers and a lot of people have really stepped up into leadership roles without them being assigned.”

At the end of last year’s season, the Wildcats received two Second Team All Metro selections, one of which remains on the team this year: Dani Mabry. Mabry was an attacker for the team last year, scoring 48 goals for her team last spring. The junior captain managed to score at least one goal in all 22 of the games. Mabry says that it will be hard to top last year, but they are hopeful and excited for this years contest.

“Compared to last year, I don’t think we will have ‘third in state’ kind of success, but we are hopeful with a lot of new talent on the team this year,” said Mabry. “I’m excited to see where this year takes us.”

As far as coaching goes, a new head coach is looking to make herself known this year. After veteran head coach Coach Carlile accepted a new position as a coach right across the street at Missouri Baptist University, Coach Jamie Kuhn will takeover the position. Coach Kuhn has much experience with the game, playing collegiately at Lindenwood University. Kuhn clearly knows the ins and outs of the game, allowing the team to remain confident in her decisions as head coach this year.

As the coach remains excited for her first year, the players look even more excited to play under her wing.

“It’s a completely different style of coaching, but we all like the change of pace,” says Earleywine regarding Kuhn. “Though she has made the rules quite a bit more strict than last year, it is making us more responsible and turning us into better leaders.”

“[Coach Kuhn] has so much knowledge about the game and it brings a new perspective that we haven’t experienced yet,” says Mabry.

The Wildcats first game is against St. Joe’s at home. Pop out to the turf Monday, March 11 to see Coach Kuhn’s debut and the start of a new Girls Lacrosse season and generation.