Girls Lacrosse: Mason Girls 'Impress' In Second Full Year

Two years ago, George Mason High School’s varsity lacrosse team (still in its club-level stages) couldn’t even beat Edison’s JV team. Monday, they got their crack at Edison’s varsity team, losing 9-5.

True, the Mustangs were on the wrong side of the score, but they still had reason to cheer. “I was very pleased with the way we played,” head coach Barbara Mahony said. “This team’s learning curve is impressive.”

The lacrosse program at George Mason, for which Mahony helped spearhead, is in its second full year and is gaining a full head of steam.

On the girls side, the learning curve has to be impressive if they want to compete with the group AAA teams in their district. Only one player on varsity (freshman Mary Kate Cummings) had any competitive experience with a crosse before the high school program was created. And this 2004 team is abound with youth; only one senior—captain Kaitlin Bottock—is on the roster.

Mahony’s passion for the sport she coaches was recently chronicled in this month’s edition of Lacrosse Magazine. (More on Page 6 of this edition) This year, she has the girls playing with passion at a very competitive level. The team is 1-2 so far with an 11-4 win over Osbourn last week. The team’s next game is at home April 12 against Oakton.

“We’re way ahead of where we were last year,” she said.

Anchored by two sophomores (Meghan Mondragon and Emma O’Hara) and a freshman (Adina Pollack), the defense has been solid thus far. “It’s really been our saving grace,” said Mahony. “And our goalie (sophomore Lauren Moore) is gaining so much confidence every day. She’s playing so well.”

Mahony calls sophomore center Kristin Schwind the “key” to this year’s team. “She attacks the game at 100 miles per hour. She really makes things happen,” Mahony said. Schwind led the Mustangs with four goals in the team’s win over Osbourn. Like Schwind, junior Lena Griffin is a sparkplug who plays both ends of the field.

Cummings, who chipped in three against the Eagles, joins Schwind in leading the offensive charge. Cummings scored all five goals against Edison Monday. They are joined upfront by Bottock, junior Katie Bugg, sophomore Emily Walden and freshman Jane Nystrom. Sophomore Christie Ankeney and freshman Katie Mitchell have also contributed to the scoring this season.

“We’re now playing a ‘settled’ offense, using a lot of motion and cuts and being very patient,” Mahony said. Accentuating the differences from 2003, she added “this year we are actually running plays.”