There is a first time for everything, and this season is the inaugural for the varsity girls? lacrosse team.
Steve Reardon, who along with Renee Turner, Justin Tanner, and Kaitlyn Sitar, will coach the team, watched the girls improve in a recent scrimmage at Swartz Creek.
After fielding only a junior varsity team last season, the program now has more than 50 members, enough to divide into split squads.
The girls will play close to 14 games by Reardon’s estimate, and he hopes for a .500 season in the team’s pilot run.
‘We have some natural athletes that have picked it up pretty quick,? Reardon said.
‘We’re pretty tough on defense and we have seven or eight hard shooters on offense.?
Overall, Reardon said, the team is nearing the same skill level of other programs in just its second year of existence.
The number of players in girls? lacrosse is rapidly growing, Reardon said, because of the relatively low startup costs. The sports? youth has been a hindrance in schedule-making, because of the lack of game officials familiar with the sport. That has been the most difficult part of getting the program up and running.
Sitar, a four-year player from the club program at Albion College, said the girls are beginning to take a handle on the nuances in the rulebook.
‘They’re very interested in learning the rules and the right way to play,? Sitar said.
‘They’re very interested in piecing that together.
‘Making sure everyone is on the same page with the rules has been a big deal. They’re definitely getting there. (Versus Swartz Creek) they were so excited and ready to keep playing. They’re ready to attack the season and take it game by game and start playing.?
The girls? willingness to learn and mesh well as a team has made the going easier, Sitar said, and the team is only getting better.
‘The first year was more to learn and now there are (two teams), and the varsity is ready to win,? Sitar said.
The girls take on Flint Carman-Ainsworth Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in their home opener.