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05/20/2021 12:00 AMWhile looking for a new sport to play as a youngster, Zaina Gebril decided to join the North Haven Youth Girls’ Lacrosse program. Zaina has seen both her passion for the sport and her skillset grow over the subsequent years, leading her to a senior captain’s role with the girls’ lacrosse squad at North Haven High School.
“It was a new sport. I didn’t really know many people playing it. It just seemed very fun to try out. It was different,” says Zaina. “Once I started playing, it was very fun. Eventually, it was easy to learn. I started to enjoy it the first year I started playing.”
Zaina, a defender, played all of her lacrosse in the North Haven youth league from 4th grade until her freshman season. She was coached by Frank Biceglia, who is now an assistant coach with the high school team. Zaina learned a lot about lacrosse by competing in the youth program, while building bonds that she carried with her into high school.
“I loved playing it. All the people I’m playing with, we have basically been playing together from then all the way to now,” Zaina says. “It’s always the same people. You know how everybody plays, and you know what the competition is like. Once I went to into high school lacrosse, it was scary trying out. But there are 16 seniors now, and we were ready to start something together.”
Zaina joined the North Haven High School girls’ lacrosse team as a freshman and spent her first two seasons cross-rostered between the JV and varsity squads. Despite having numerous years of youth lacrosse experience, Zaina found that playing lacrosse at the high school level was a whole new ballgame.
“It was very, very different. Practices were two hours, working from start to finish every single day. We had multiple games a week. It was a lot more,” says Zaina. “Game speed was nowhere near where it was in youth. The game was so much faster. It was hard to adapt to that. But once I did, I got used to it.”
In her junior year, Zaina saw the 2020 season get canceled due to COVID-19. Rather than sit out, Zaina and many of her North Haven teammates competed in the Dream League last summer. Zaina says that playing in the league proved crucial in her development and showed her what she needed to do to succeed with the varsity team as a senior.
“The Dream League prepared me a lot. If I missed the whole season—no stickwork or practicing with other people—I wouldn’t have been prepared for this year at all,” Zaina says. “Junior year is a very big year in lacrosse to develop, knowing you’re going into senior year.”
When her senior year came, Zaina became a full-time starting varsity defender for North Haven. As her four years in the program have unfolded, Zaina has continually gained confidence and started to see just how effective she can be on the field.
“As a freshman, I was new to the team, and I wouldn’t say I was the most valuable to the team. I was just a freshman. As the years went on, I started to become more confident, knowing I was capable,” says Zaina. “I was practicing with the older kids. It gave me a boost. It made me work harder and give everything I can. I knew it had it in me. Once I started getting used to it, my talent came out more.”
In addition to being a varsity starter, Zaina entered this season as a captain with fellow seniors Mariella Biceglia and Mackenzie White. Zaina had worked toward becoming a captain and was proud to earn the role alongside teammates that she’s been playing with for several years. As a captain, Zaina likes to lead both vocally and by example in an effort to help everyone on the team improve.
Head Coach Bernie Pellegrino says that Zaina has become a solid leader both on and off the field. Pellegrino believes that Zaina’s work ethic and dedication are inspiring to her teammates.
“As one of our tri-captains, Zaina is a strong presence both physically and verbally. Her efforts to play hard inspires those around her to do the same,” says Pellegrino. “Zaina wears our motto of commitment and accountability on her sleeve. She displays both by her hard work, and she demands the same from her teammates.”
Prior to the lacrosse season, Zaina served as a senior captain with the North Haven girls’ indoor track team this winter. Zaina has been doing track since middle school and competed in the sprinting events for North Haven. Zaina saw her overall athleticism flourish as a result of playing two varsity sports at the high school.
“A big part of my confidence on the lacrosse team was knowing that I had a speed advantage. If I have the ball and someone is coming to defend with me, I can just run,” Zaina says. “Indoor track was right before lacrosse. It would get into perfect shape and go into lacrosse season physically and mentally ready for it.”
After graduating from North Haven, Zaina will attend Southern Connecticut State University later this year. Zaina’s goal is to walk on to the women’s lacrosse team because she “can’t really picture myself stopping after playing for so long.” Zaina loves the sport of lacrosse and feels proud to be a part of the family in North Haven.
“I love calling myself a lacrosse player. It’s a big part of me. I love being on the field. I’ve made so many chosen sisters on the team,” says Zaina. “When it’s lacrosse season, I see them every day. Coach Frank started teaching us back then. Now we’re going to graduate. Everyone is still here. It’s more than just a sport.”