Lacrosse is a competitive 10-12-player team sport with a lacrosse stick and ball. Players use the long-held sticks to catch, throw, and carry the ball to the team-designated goal. It’s a fast-paced game that combines soccer, hockey, and basketball elements into one sport.
A defender for girls lacrosse from Wylie School in the Lovejoy girls lacrosse club and senior, states “I joined in eighth grade and was right after Covid, and I was just kind of looking for something to do and to stay fit. I was fully online still and my dad saw a flier that the lacrosse team was looking for more players. And so I play there now,” Scarlett Rooney (12), girls lacrosse defender said.
Wylie High School doesn’t have a lacrosse team. So anyone who wants to join the sport must join the Lovejoy Lacrosse Club for girls or the Plano Lacrosse Club for guys. “It’s a club team. And so the way club teams work is you have to play with a club closest to you… Which is Lovejoy,” Scarlett said.
Since Lacrosse isn’t a popular sport, try-outs are not required. This means anyone at any age can join, as early as a third grader to as late as college freshmen.
“I recommend it if you’re looking for something fun to do. It is like any sport, it is hard work. But last year we went all the way to the semifinals for a state for Division Two and we lost in the semifinals,” Scarlett said. Their first game of the year was the Aggie land tournament, “So we’re the champions in our division,” Scarlett said.
They’ve got each other’s backs, no matter what, and it shows in how they play together. It’s clear they love the game and respect their opponents and each other.
“We’re working on building a team spirit, with any big group of teenage girls, you’re going to have some drama, you know? And there are times where we haven’t always gotten along the best, but we’re getting better and building up that team spirit,” Scarlett said.
In a thrilling series of matches, they demonstrated remarkable skill and determination, ultimately claiming the championship title and finishing at the top of the standings. Now they continue to practice 7:30 to 9 weeknights until their upcoming game next week.
“Our next official game, the first official game of the season, is next Tuesday on the 18. And we’re going to be playing against Highland Park at Willow Springs Middle School, which is our home field,” Scarlett said.
We invite everyone to join in cheering on our girls on the team during their upcoming game this Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Your support means so much to them as they showcase their hard work and dedication on the field.