Yet again, the Oakmont Varsity Girls Lacrosse team has put up an incredible season. With a current game record of 8-8, the girls are consistently working towards the next opportunity to show how powerful they are. Last Thursday, May 15th, the team celebrated their 10 graduating seniors on the annual Senior Appreciation Night, and what a performance it was.
This year, the team celebrated seniors Meghan Heffernan, Maryl Hooper, Rachel Simkewicz, Sadie Hoover, Hannah Ferguson, MaDylan Alves, Amaiya LeBlanc, Annika Sallila, Ashlynn Tata, and Addi Roy. Both players of the varsity and junior varsity teams made this game a special memory for all.
Before Thursday’s game, the girls planned for success by setting both personal and team goals. For all in attendance, it was obvious the impact that it had on the team’s morale and performance. Senior midfielder Meghan Heffernan started the game off with a powerful draw, allowing Oakmont to gain first possession, an important aspect of this game. The Littleton Tigers put up a fight, but it was no match for our senior Ashlynn Tata, who grabbed the ball and sent it upfield right away.
The game soon proved to be one that relied on smart defense and ball control. This would not be achievable without the remarkable performance of Oakmont’s senior goalie, Annika Sallila. Sallila not only saved almost every shot on goal, but also marked her 600th career save.
Towards the end of the first half, Littleton was up by two points with a score of 5-3. In less than thirty seconds, junior Julia Laprade scored two goals, tying the game. This is the point where the advantage shifts for our Spartans.
Laprade scores another goal within the first four minutes of the third quarter, giving Oakmont the first lead of the game. Not only was the offense on point for these twelve minutes, with two goals from Laprade, but our defense held Littleton the entire time, not allowing a single goal.
As the final quarter began, those on and off the field saw the importance of sideline support. The energetic girls on the JV team were great cheerleaders, successfully disrupting the opposing team. Not only did this throw off Littleton, but it also motivated our girls to keep up their energy as they fought through the remaining quarter.
With eleven seconds remaining, Heffernan scores Oakmont’s final goal, ending the game with a strong 9-6 win. This game was monumental in showing the effects of preparation and togetherness. This highlighted the importance that every aspect of a team holds in securing a win. This game ended with a bittersweet ceremony to recognize our graduating seniors. Whether they have played all four years or just one, they are an irreplaceable part of the team that will be missed greatly next year.
