Massena Lady Raiders Look To Repeat Sectional Championship

Last year the Massena Girl’s Varsity Lacrosse team finished the season with a 15-2 overall record. In 2011 the Lady Raiders went undefeated in the league and went on to win their second Section 10 B/C Championship in a row. The two losses came from Section 3 teams; Watertown in regular season and Oswego in the state quarter-finals.

Returning seniors this year include Kallie Barnes (defense), Emmalynn Dupree (midfield), Hanna Gleason (defense), Shaydi Oakes (attack), Megan Poupore (attack) and Bethany Rogers (midfield).

Other returning players are sophomores Shannon Casey (attack) and Carlie Leary (midfield). Juniors Erin Francis (attack), Alisha Jacobs (goalie), Courney Patterson (defense), Steffanie Premo (midfield), Jaclyn Spinner (midfield) and Dominique Valancius (midfield). Freshman midfielder Courtney Manley also returns to the varsity team after a year hiatus.

Newcomers to the team include Salmon River transfer junior Jackie Benedict (defense, midfield), sophomores Ashlynn Olson (attack), Megan Hans (attack) and Annalee Beckstead (defense). New freshmen members are Colleen Besaw (defense), Annie Casey (midfield), Ellen Greene (midfield), Courtney Hart (defense), Mia Jermano (midfield), Felicity Love (goalie), Alanna Pyke (attack) and Emily Wilmshurst (midfield/defense).

“Our main goal this season is to repeat as Sectional Champions. Everyone is Class “C” this year so we need to win the section in order to move on to regionals,” explains Coach Jeffrey Slack. “We would also like to try and win every game in our section again this season as well as to improve every day we are on the field”.

The first game of the season was Wednesday, April 4th at 4:30 against Salmon River at Salmon River.