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05/09/2023 08:25 AMWithin the walls of lacrosse, Gabby Barry has always taken a great pride in her defense, and that fire has come into full fruition for her final foray with the North Haven girls’ lacrosse team this spring.
The Nighthawks senior captain and goaltender first took up cheerleading before switching out her terrain of a gym mat for a grass turf around fifth grade. It was on her eighth grade squad where the then-defender knew there was a void in the net for her team, so she took up playing netminder. Four years later, the varsity veteran has finally earned a starting slot protecting the plumbing for North Haven.
“I love the fast-paced dynamic of the sport and the fact that it takes teamwork to make it all happen,” says Gabby. “Previously playing defense, goalie came natural to me, and I like having a little more control in the end game of everything and seeing the whole field. The Goalie Club we started last offseason helped me with hand-eye coordination. It is really nice to start as goalie, because we all work together, and so I try to be more vocal out there. It is a conjoined effort with everyone.”
Nighthawks girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Bernie Pellegrino details that not only has Gabby produced through her persistence, but she additionally added new traditions to the program while being a well-rounded and respected leader.
“Determination is a word that I think describes Gabby well. She sets goals and then is unwavering in her desire to achieve them,” says Pellegrino. “While playing behind a three-year starter during her tenure with the team, Gabby was determined to improve her game in the cage. ‘The Goalie Club’ was born out of her desire to be the best she could be in the goal. The results have been evident in her play and the respect she has earned from her teammates. Her leadership skills as one of our team’s captains are also evident by the example she sets with her actions. She is a caring person who has formed strong personal relationships with the girls on our team. They respect her as a player, a captain, and perhaps most importantly, as a person. She is a polite and respectful young woman who will achieve much in her future.”
Beginning last June, the aforementioned Goalie Club was a weekly Sunday morning training session that continued throughout the offseason, right through the winter until this season began. Gabby never missed a week–paying massive dividends in the form of her dominance between the pipes.
“Coach Pellegrino followed a lot of drills and wanted us to get our hands going and acquire muscle memory,” Gabby says. “We also worked on our hand and feet skills. It really helped me by making the transition from the offseason to regular season a lot easier.”
Gabby additionally has showcased her physical and mental durability–undaunted by a concussion caused by being struck in the head by a shot just a few days before the season started, causing her to miss the first four contests. Gabby has returned to the net with the determination to succeed with the momentous backing of her teammates.
“I was bummed out at first, and it was tough, but I made sure to be at all the practices, and my team knew my health came first,” says Gabby. “It scared me mentally; I would duck or flinch when I faced high shots. Yet my team had confidence in me, so I was able to gain confidence back in myself more because of that.”
Gabby enjoys the fact that she can give the team an added burst when the squad is not firing on all cylinders offensively. Conversely, she details she can feel the pressure when the points pile up against her, though the concussion calamity cultivated additional confidence within herself.
“At the end of the day, if our team is not scoring, I love that I can catch the ball and stop the other team from scoring,” says Gabby. “It can be tough when things aren’t going well, because then I can blame myself. The mental aspect of being goalie is huge. I was really scared after the concussion, but to overcome that, the team reassured me they are there for me. My coaches and teammates always make sure to let me know I am doing a good job.”
Gabby is so ecstatic to lead an energetic and synergetic bunch both on and off the field. She concludes that it goes hand-in-hand with her verbal skill enhancement while in action, and expressing herself to others during crucial defensive durations of time during a game.
“I am very happy with the environment of the team this year. We work well, hold each other accountable, and give encouragement to each other,” Gabby says. “My communication with the team has improved. I need to direct the team when I can see the whole field. I have also gotten better with my clears and being part of the transition game with moving the ball upfield and getting it into a good spot for us offensively.”
As Gabby looks to continue her lacrosse career collegiately in a club-level atmosphere and simultaneously move towards the medical field, she conveys great gratitude towards her tenure with the Nighthawks and the close relationships her four years wrought.
“Academically, I plan to go to school to study nursing. I do not plan to play lacrosse on a team, but hopefully maybe with intramurals because I love the sport,” says Gabby. “Even though the stats and scores do not demonstrate our abilities as a team, I am grateful for my time here. It is such a great family atmosphere. It is great hanging out with my best friends and people I love.”