NEWBURYPORT – The Newburyport High School girls’ lacrosse team is the defending MIAA D3 Girls’ Lacrosse State Champion. And, while there is a solid core of Cape Ann League All-Stars (see story below) in the line-up, coach Catherine Batchelder is most pleased with the character of the team.
The Clippers, as usual, will have a difficult out-of-conference schedule.
Newburyport High School girls’ lacrosse coach Catherine Batchelder
Wednesday’s Girls’ Lacrosse scores (Cape Ann League)
Newburyport 15, North Reading 1
Pentucket 18, Essex Tech 6
Hamilton-Wenham 15, Lynnfield 7 – Hamilton Wenham kicked off their 2024 season in Lynnfield in a Cape Ann League matchup. Hamilton Wenham came out strong, with returning threats Evie Bernard (6 goals, 1 assist, 7 draw controls) and Maisie Leland (3 goals) taking turns putting it in the net, putting Hamilton Wenham up 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Avery Nistl (2 goals, 2 draw controls), Grace Glidden (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 draw controls), Claire Veenema (1 assist), and Catherine Carroll (1 assist) were strong in the midfield while Stewart Bernard (3 goals), Laura Sabo (1 assist) and Hannah Ciriello (1 assist) added to the attack. Defensively, returning starters Ava Shultz (senior captain), Lucy Ayers (senior captain), Maddie Graber, and Hailey Ireland didn’t allow many shots on goalie senior captain Ava Vautour (9 saves).
Hamilton Wenham benefitted from a large squad in the cold and wet conditions, with 9 players from the bench sharing time on the field. The Generals are scheduled to play at home against Georgetown on Friday, though this game will likely be rescheduled over the weekend due to field conditions.
BY KYLE GAUDETTE kgaudette@newburyportnews.com
The sheer amount of talent that comes from our area girls lacrosse ranks has always been overwhelming.
And that will be no different this upcoming spring. The Daily News area already has eight athletes who are committed to either a Division 1 or 2 college, while many more will continue to play the sport at the next level as well. Plus, as the season — and summer — goes along, that number will only increase.
Of course, it starts with Newburyport. After winning the Division 3 State Championship last year, the Clippers are in line to return four Division 1 talents this spring. Goalie Kate Keller is committed to Northwestern, the current, reigning NCAA Division I National Champion. You then have forwards Olivia McDonald (Colgate), Lilly Pons (Furman) and Reese Bromby (UMass Amherst) who are all Division 1 athletes as well. McDonald scored 63 goals with 17 assists last year, Pons scored 41 goals with 20 assists in only 16 games, and Bromby tallied 65 goals with 12 assists.
All were Daily News All-Stars. But there is certainly plenty of All-Star talent elsewhere.
Pentucket will have three such players, with Sydney Trout ( Duke), Ella Palmer (University of Tampa) and Kate Conover (St. Anselm’s) all set to play at a high collegiate level. All midfielders/forwards, Conover scored 33 goals with 15 assists last year, Palmer notched 47 goals with 11 assists, and Trout sent home 44 goals with 28 assists.
Lastly, Newburyport native Cece Batchelder is a current junior at Governor’s Academy who is committed to Harvard. She is the daughter of legendary Newburyport High coach, Catherine Batchelder.
