Pelham Daily Sports Digest: Pride-Passion-Pelham Lacrosse

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The Top Spot:

The Pelham girls lacrosse team went 8-8-2 last year and early this season the team and Head Coach Sara Bagwell are looking to finish this season above the .500 mark.

Patch recently caught up with Coach Bagwell to discuss this year’s season.

Patch Sports: As far as age and, more importantly experience goes, what type of team
do you expect to have this season?

Coach Sara Bagwell: We have a nice mix of returning players and add a wealth of talent from several younger players this year, including three sophomores. The legacy left by our former players has given everyone a real sense of pride in Pelham lacrosse. Many of the players have also participated in winter clinics and club teams. This keeps their skills at a consistent level during the off-season.  

Patch Sports: What were some of the weaknesses your team had last year that you hope
to improve upon this season?

Coach Bagwell: Last year was a rebuilding year for us as we had graduated much of our previous year’s starting line up. After being together for a year plus spending much of the winter together we have had an opportunity to connect as a team. We continue to work on more complex strategies to improve our game as well, specifically in the defensive end.  

Patch Sports: Who are some of your returning players coming back who you see being
big contributors?

Coach Bagwell: Izzy Laterzo, a senior attack player, is a big contributor. She has worked hard in the off-season and has a passion for lacrosse.  She is a leader on and off the field and has been an asset to the program. Her understanding of the game provides her with the ability to lead her team and Maggie Livingstone, a senior midfielder will be leading the defensive end.  She is scrappy and tenacious.  Maggie has high expectations for herself and her teammates which pushes her to always try and improve.  Mallory Brown provides patience and flow on the attacking end.  I expect her scoring abilities to increase as her confidence in herself as being a strong player increase.  

Patch Sports: Who are some of your new players you are expecting to thrust into a
larger role on the team?

Coach Bagwell: I’m expecting our new defensive players, Holly Carlton and Claire Fogarty, as well as goalie, Laura Gabow, to step up and lead.  As juniors they have watched the upper classmen have much success since they entered the high school program. They have an opportunity to be the next leaders.  Both Carlton and Fogarty have been focusing on strategy and technique over the last few weeks as leaders in the defensive end. Gabow is in her second year as goalie for us and has shown improvement in her communication skills with her teammates.  

Patch Sports: How has the team been preparing in the off-season?

Coach Bagwell: This past winter we participated in the Westchester Elite Underdome league and played many of the schools we would face this season. This was the first time in several years that we have done something as a team in the off-season.  It gave the new players a great opportunity to meld with returning players before pre-season. It’s always beneficial to simply play together.  

Patch Sports: What are your goals for the season as a team?

Coach Bagwell: As a team I want the girls to recognize the importance of excellence.  It is a goal we have every game, and every practice.  When we play, there is an emphasis on working as hard as possible to be excellent in their skill so that the strategy behind what they do is what shines.  Our slogan is Pride-Passion-Pelham.  We have confidence in ourselves as players and strive for excellence, we have a passion for the sport of lacrosse, and leaving the program better than how it was when we began, and we also take pride in the town of Pelham.  The girls want to make a name for themselves and want to represent Pelham with their abilities in lacrosse.  

Patch Sports: Are there one or two games circled on the schedule this season?

Coach Bagwell: Last year we lost both our scheduled games to Ursuline.  The girls are certainly interested in seeing that we don’t repeat that again this season.  We anticipate continued competition with them and are definitely looking forward to adding the W on our stats.

Patch Sports: What are you personally looking forward to this season?

Coach Bagwell: This season we have planned a team trip to Clearwater FL.  It is something I’ve wanted to do since taking over the program. With the leadership of the seniors and the love they have for the game and their teammates this was the perfect season to initiate a spring break trip.  We will be practicing several hours a day, but do plan to have some fun as well!  One highlight will be working with a Boys and Girls Club after school one afternoon to help with homework and play games with them.  It is an opportunity to give back and serve the Tampa community as we demonstrate our pride and passion.  

College Sports Notebook:

• The Dominican College baseball team (10-17) travels to Waterbury, CT, on Monday to meet Post University, and then returns home on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Philadelphia University at Provident Bank Park in Pomona at 3 p.m. Tony Blake of Windsor, CT, was selected as Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference player of the week. He batting .303, second on the team to Andrew Camardella of Pelham, who is rolling along at a .373 clip. Peter Martinez of White Plains is third with a .250 average.

Weekly Sports Poll:

The last five times Kentucky won the National Championship the Yankees responded and won the World Series. Last week’s poll ask who would win the Final Four in New Orleans and the Patch public correctly over Kansas, Ohio State and Louisville. This week’s sports poll deals with the start of baseball season and we are asking you ?

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