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05/20/2018 12:00 AMThe Valley Regional girls’ lacrosse team is in the midst of its best campaign in a decade this spring. With a record of 8-7, the Warriors have qualified for the postseason for the first time since they played in the qualifying round of the Division II State Tournament in 2010.
Valley currently holds the fourth best record in the Shoreline Conference as the team prepares to compete in the Shoreline Conference Tournament, after which the Warriors will play in the Class S State Tournament. Last week, the Warriors celebrated their Senior Night by posting a 20-8 home win against Suffield. They later dropped a 16-14 contest to Old Saybrook on the road.
On May 17, Valley exploded for 20 goals when it defeated Suffield on Senior Night in what was supposed to be a doubleheader with the Warriors’ boys’ squad. Unfortunately, Suffield could not bring a full team for the boys’ game, and so Valley won by forfeit.
Valley girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Cory Needleman wished the boys’ team had a chance to play, too, although she was pleased to see such a big contingent in the stands for her team’s victory. The crowd included several 8th-graders who are slated to play for the girls’ squad.
“We had a really great game for our Senior Night. We were actually planning to do a doubleheader, but Suffield’s boys didn’t have enough players. It was just the girls, and the boys did their ceremony before ours,” Needleman said. “The boys stayed for our game. We had quite a few fans to hype up the girls. It was nice to see all the support from the community, and we invited the 8th-grade girls to come up and see that. It hypes them up, too.”
Among the players honored on Senior Night were the Warriors’ senior captains: midfielder Kathryn Burr, defender Jaime Jaillet, and attacker Hilary Gahran. Coach Needleman likes having a captain at all three positions to make sure there is a steadying presence wherever the ball may be. Burr holds down the midfield, and she’s out there from the start to the final whistle. In the win against Suffield, Burr scored a goal to go with an assist.
“Kathryn basically never comes off the field. She may get a 20-second rest here or there. She’s a huge presence,” said Needleman. “She steps it up in games we need to step it up. She’s vocal on and off the field, and she shows her leadership by just doing. She’s aggressive, and that’s what we need.”
On the defensive end, Jaillet guides the backfield for the Warriors. She’s another vocal leader who keeps everyone moving and in their respective spots on defense.
“Jaime is a top defender for us. Her defense is great,” Needleman said. “She really takes control on the defensive end and pulls the girls together.”
Gahran facilitates the Warriors’ offense, moving the ball around to get everyone in prime position to score. She notched four goals and two assists in the Suffield win.
“Hilary really helps out with goals and making plays for everyone else,” said Needleman. “She’s quiet, but in a good way. Not all leaders need to be loud. She’s great at leading by example.”
Valley’s other seniors who were honored before the game included Isabel Hosley, Maya Gold, and Carly Thompson. Hosley scored two goals in the win, and Gold added a goal.
The Warriors saw a huge game from freshman Tory Rider, who scored six goals and provided five assists in the victory.
“They tried to lock Tory down. Their coach used both timeouts in the first half, and they put a face guard on her, but she blew past that. She got away from it and didn’t slow down,” said Needlman. “Tory’s aggressiveness on the field is awesome. Other teams already know who she is. She contributes as much as she can. I can’t wait to see what she’s doing in a couple of years.”
Junior Allie Ruel had a strong night by scoring three goals and assisting on five others versus Suffield. Ruel is another major contributor for Valley, and Coach Needleman said that she just keeps getting better.
“She has really stepped up this year. Her improvement over last year is tremendous,” said Needleman. “She is always looking to get better and learn more about the game. She shows great mental toughness and has really stepped up as a leader on and off the field.”
Sophomore Celia Ghelani and freshman Hanley Ferrucci also had a hand in Valley’s Senior Night triumph. Additionally, junior goalkeeper Mia Cost continues to impress in her first year in net. Coach Needleman hopes that Cost can continue her strong performance in the postseason.
“Mia’s never played before, and she’s stepped in and done awesome. Her eye-hand coordination is great. She’s not afraid of the ball, and that’s huge. She’s proud of the welts on her legs when she stops the ball,” Needleman said. “She’s a player every coach wants. She asks questions, listens, and respects the coaching staff. She’s phenomenal person, as well as a player.”
It’s been quite a climb for the Warriors. Last year, Valley totaled five wins, which was two wins shy of the team’s high-water mark of seven victories in 2010. With that total already eclipsed and her team about to enter postseason play, Coach Needleman feels proud to be part of such a historic season at Valley Regional.
“I’m honored to be these girls coach. They want to put in the effort and listen and learn. That’s all a coach can really ask for is girls that want to learn,” said Needleman. “The first year I coached these girls, they won one game. We’re getting better and better and better. These girls are playing their heart out for one another.”
From the Sidelines
• The Valley Regional girls’ lacrosse team last appeared in states when it played in the qualifying round of the 2010 Division II State Tournament. The last time the Warriors totaled eight wins in a season was in 2007, another year they reached the DII qualifying round.
• Cory Needleman is in her third season at the helm of the Valley girls’ lacrosse team. She is assisted by Randy Netsch, who helped start the lacrosse program at Valley 17 years ago.
• The Warriors’ wins this season have come against Haddam-Killingworth (18-3, 17-6), Morgan (19-6, 18-9), Woodstock Academy (17-11), Avon (18-7), and Suffield (16-8, 20-8).