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06/28/2021 12:00 AMThe Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse squad put together a fantastic season as one of the top teams in the Shoreline Conference. The Rams posted an overall record of 15-2 on the year and played in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final, as well as the Class S State Tournament. Head Coach Dick Shriver’s squad featured a potent mix of young talent and senior leadership, which proved to be a winning formula.
With the 2020 season completely canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coach Shriver wasn’t quite sure what to expect when the Rams took the field this campaign. As the season wore on, Shriver saw that Old Saybrook had the chance to do something special. Unfortunately, the Rams weren’t at full health by the time of the postseason. Still, Coach Shriver felt proud of what his athletes accomplished this year.
“I certainly felt like the team got better and better as the season rolled on. Toward the end, we had an injury or two,” Shriver said. “We won 13 games in a row, but then we had a key injury. The team built up got better and better, and suddenly it wasn’t getting better at a crucial moment.”
The Rams hung their hats on their defense, but they were a potent offensive force, as well. Of course, a team needs to score to win a game, but Coach Shriver credited the defense as much as the offense for Old Saybrook’s success.
“The defense was consistent throughout all seventeen games. We had 202 goals during the regular season, and only 79 goals against us,” Shriver said. “That’s a measure of the effectiveness of the defense, to keep the 13 games to 79 goals.”
Coach Shriver believed that his senior captains had a heavy hand in the Rams’ ability to pull out wins. That senior pair was Gilly Hartt and Bridget Kawecki, and both of them took home some end-of-year accolades for their solid play this year. Hartt grabbed All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, and Kawecki earned All-Shoreline Conference Second Team recognition in addition to All-State First Team honors.
“Bridget was the leader of the defense. She was consistent every game as a leader, as a defender, and as a player. She stopped opponents from scoring and got the ball down to the other end of the field,” Shriver said. “Gilly was a force on the team, she had a tough last four or five games because of injury. She was a big force on the field for teamwork, poise, ball control, confidence, and transition. She’s also the second highest scorer.”
Another major contributor for the Rams was junior Lily Cody, who was an offensive force in the Shoreline Conference. Cody earned the Shoreline’s Most Valuable Player Award, All-Shoreline Conference First Team, and All-State First Team honors.
“Lily Cody had 81 goals and 30 assists in the regular season. The other coaches knew her well. Predictably, they compensated for her once we got into the championships,” said Shriver. “She’s a great athlete, and she’ll get even better. She has one more year with us, but she’ll definitely end up playing college.”
One of the reasons for the Rams’ stellar defense was the play of sophomore goalie Sam Wakelee. There were many instances where Wakelee stopped opponents’ scoring chances dead in their tracks. Wakelee also garnered All-Shoreline Conference Second Team recognition.
“Sam Wakelee did a great job stopping the score, catching the ball, and getting it upfield,” Shriver said. “She was great at catching it to not only prevent the other team from getting a goal, but also stopping the other team from getting a draw, too. You stop the score, and you have control. It’s huge.”
One of the most encouraging things about the Rams this season was the fact that they received quality play from athletes who will be back on the roster next season. Players like Cody, junior Grace Adams, junior Chelsea Heinke, and sophomore Laura Day all made significant contributions this campaign. Day earned All-Shoreline Conference Second Team honors this year.
“Chelsea Heinke had 26 goals and eight assists, and she was particularly good at getting the ball at the crease and turning around to get a goal,” Shriver said. “Grace Adams had 22 goals and 12 assists, and she was good at maintaining possession and moving it around the goal. Laura Day and Lily made up a good midfield right from the start. I don’t know who our third midfielder will be next season, but with the two of them, we’’ll do fine.”
Other players that will run it back with the Rams next year are junior Alexandra Coty and freshman Amelia Sigersmith. Both athletes were incredibly effective.
“Amelia Sigersmith’s just a sophomore next year, she’s got three more years with us. She came through the Ticks youth league with her sister Lilly. That’s the power of having a youth league,” said Shriver. “Alexandra Coty hadn’t played lacrosse prior to her freshman year. Even though she missed this last year, she’ll be a defensive force next season and may even move into the offense a bit, too. She can handle the ball, and she can run.”
Senior players like Molly Henderson and Lilly Sigersmith added some experienced voices besides the captains to help round out the squad.
“Molly Henderson was a senior starter this year, and can’t think of time where she threw the ball away. She was so steady,” Shriver said. “With players like her and Lilly Sigersmith, we had a total of seven girls who can pass and catch the ball when we had possession. That’s recipe for success.”
Coach Shriver is excited to see what the future brings for Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse. With what should presumably be a pandemic free year in 2022, Coach Shriver could see the Rams right back competing for conference and state titles.
“We have the Ticks’ lacrosse program. We don’t have a lot of girls choosing lacrosse compared to other schools, but we had five or so JV players and 15 varsity players. Those varsity girls were playing the whole game,” Shriver said. “They learned how to get the most out of a team of a little over a dozen players. That was the success of the season. It wasn’t depth, it was endurance, persistence, and cohesiveness. All it takes is one or two players to make a big impact. Sam Wakelee will be back, Lily Cody will be back, and Laura Day is only a junior next year, and she came on like gangbusters this year. Nine starters are coming back. I’m excited about next year.”