The Highlanders are in a good place right now: undefeated, that is.
The real test of competence comes on Wednesday, Mar. 15, when Helix girls lacrosse plays rival team Granite Hills. The Eagles (5-0) are also undefeated, so the match at Helix promises to be a heartbreaking one for at least one team.
The Highlanders are in a good place right now: undefeated, that is.
The real test of competence comes on Wednesday, Mar. 15, when Helix girls lacrosse plays rival team Granite Hills. The Eagles (5-0) are also undefeated, so the match at Helix promises to be a heartbreaking one for at least one team.
“I’m a little nervous, they’re definitely a really good team,” said Highlander co-captain Taylor Ponce, junior. “But I think that my team can get there, we can be at their level. We work well together, we just need to fix some things like every team does.”
Helix’s other co-captain, junior Jade Verri, said they are preparing mentally more than physically for the rivalry game. Following a 9-6 non-conference win over Spring Creek on Monday night, she said it is all about the mind.
“We’re taking this game [against Spring Creek] and seeing exactly what we need to work on,” she said, describing the Highlanders preparation for the Wednesday game against Granite Hills. “We’re probably not going to be doing anything super strenuous because it’s more of a mentality thing. There’s not much physical you can change in a day.”
The win over Spring Creek was a sloppy one. Although the Highlanders left the half with a 7-2 lead, they unraveled considerably as the clock ran down, giving up four goals and only earning two.
Helix head coach John Rader said it was typical of most of the games they have played this year.
“It’s the beginning of the season, everyone’s kind of messy trying to figure out who’s who on the team,” said Rader. “We’ll be good.”
Rader said the rivalry match against the Eagles is usually a season highlight.
“It’s going to be a game,” he said. “That could be the game of the season. It’s a solid rivalry we’ve had with them for years. It always brings the best out of the girls on both sides.”
And the Highlanders have a lot of ‘best’ to be brought out, said Rader.
“We’re in a good place for this early in the season,” he said. “We could potentially be better this season than last year. We have a really good group of kids and they’re coming together really well.”
The Scotties are mostly juniors, with only one senior on the team and a handful of freshmen and sophomores. A few of the girls on the varsity team actually have no lacrosse experience, but Rader said the magic of this team is their purpose-driven friendship.
“They like each other,” he said. “They’re so supportive. We have three girls on varsity who’ve never played lacrosse before and they get tons of help from the girls who’ve been playing for two or three years. We have fantastic personalities this year.”
Verri said watching the team develop has been a thrilling experience.
“I’m really proud of what our team is doing right now because we do have three girls who have never played lacrosse before and they’re really hitting that learning curve and taking off,” she said. “I’m excited to see how we’re going to end the season with this pieced-together team. I love all of them and we’re going places and it’s really cool to see it coming together.”
