The Morgan girls lacrosse team could not have asked for a stronger start to its season.
After a dominant 13-7 season opening win April 4th at Indian River against Valley Regional, the Morgan girls lacrosse team faced a test of resilience in a narrow game against Old Lyme, falling just short with a score of 7-11. This is a significant improvement from their last two matchups versus Old Lyme, where they fell 5-13 and 3-13 last season.
Valley Regional Game Review: 13-7
From the opening draw against Valley Regional, Morgan played a selfless match with 6 assists to a 13-7 win. Senior captain Abby Stack emphasized the importance of the team’s early season performance.
“I think we played really well as a team, which is very encouraging, especially this early in the season,” Stack said. “Our coach has also acknowledged that our gameplay is significantly better this early on than in past years, which is really exciting looking forward into the rest of the season.”
That improvement was evident in Morgan’s offensive rhythm. The team moved the ball efficiently and created scoring opportunities with 18 shots on goal and a 72% shot accuracy, compared to a 41% shot accuracy when they faced Valley last season. Junior midfielder Emma Holecz, who had three goals and two assists, highlighted the natural chemistry developing among teammates.
“Gwen [Madura], Emma [Teuner], and I have always worked so well together; we just know how to find each other,” she said. “Usually my assists come from unscripted moments. I like to see all the options, drive, and then dish it out.”
Morgan’s ability to share the ball made them difficult to defend. Scoring contributions came from across the lineup, a point of pride for the team.
“It’s awesome that we can all contribute because it shows that our team is very skilled,” Holecz added. “That’s what makes us hard to guard.”
Head Coach Bill Lindsay praised both the execution and the energy surrounding the team’s opener.
“I was really pleased with our team’s energy from both the players on the field and on the bench,” he said. “Everyone on the bench was engaged, and their enthusiasm helped lift the players on the field.”
Morgan’s defensive communication also stood out, a key emphasis during preseason.
“Communication is extremely important on both ends of the field, especially defense,” Stack said. “I think we did a really good job
with that during our game, and it’s something that’s crucial to our team’s success.”
In goal, Junior Annabelle Parent delivered a standout performance, particularly in the second half, helping Morgan maintain control with a save percentage of 50%.
“Anna played very well,” Lindsay noted. “She did a great job of helping to break Valley’s momentum. She has a chance to be one of the top goalkeepers in the Shoreline Conference this year.”
Old Lyme Game Review : 7-11
Morgan carried that confidence into its second game against Old Lyme, even though they were unable to pull away with a win with a final score of 7-11. While the offense remained productive, it was the defense that defined the game.
The Morgan girls are currently 5-33 for overall wins and losses against Old Lyme.
“I think we played great defense as a team and didn’t get down on ourselves,” Holecz said. The team had 11 ground balls, and three caused turnovers.
That resilience and composure reflect a team focused not just on early wins but long-term growth. Lindsay emphasized that continued improvement, especially limiting turnovers and staying composed under pressure, will be key moving forward.
For Stack, early success is as much about teamwork as it is about results.
“I’m really proud of how we played as a team,” she said. “Our stats were really dispersed among all of our players, and that shows how well we work together.” From the first two games alone, six players have contributed to the scoring efforts.
With two strong performances to open the season, Morgan has positioned itself as a team to watch from their well rounded offensive side and their strong defensive side. The players know tougher challenges lie ahead, such as Old Saybrook and North Haven, but they remain confident in the foundation they’ve built.
Beyond individual performances, the team’s identity is rooted in its depth, particularly within a strong junior class that anchors the roster.
“The junior class is the foundation of the team,” Lindsay said. “They’re experienced, they play well together, and they have a really high ceiling.”
“Going into this week, the games will be more challenging, so keeping our heads up is super important,” Stack said. “We’ve been putting in a lot of work in practice, and I think it will directly apply to our games.”
Morgan continued their momentum on the road against North Branford, April 10th, with a score of 12-10.
If the opening week is any indication, this is a team built not just on talent, but on trust, chemistry, and a shared belief in what they can accomplish this season.
