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04/09/2022 12:00 AMAfter putting together a perfect regular season in 2021, the Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse team is back in action and looking for even better success this spring. With a ton of talent returning from last year’s squad, the Rams have their sights set on going on a memorable postseason journey during the 2022 campaign.
Led by fifth-year Head Coach Dick Shriver, Old Saybrook is off to a 3-0 start after winning its first three games this year. The Rams began their season with a 13-4 victory at Ledyard on April 2 and then notched a 14-12 home win over North Branford in a rematch of last year’s Shoreline Conference final on April 5. Four days later, Old Saybrook played a road game versus Waterford and edged out the Lancers by a 9-8 score.
Coach Shriver feels proud about the Rams have started the season, especially after earning a tight victory against North Branford, which defeated Old Saybrook in the title game of last year’s Shoreline Conference Tournament.
“We certainly ran out of steam to some extent. By the time of the championship, we were down players. We did the best we could with what we had on the field at the time,” Coach Shriver said. “You go undefeated, it’s understandable if they might have been a little tired.”
Coach Shriver praised Old Saybrook for its efforts on both sides of the ball through the early goings of the current season. Senior captain goalie Samantha Wakelee has been excellent in the net thus far, making 5 saves in the Rams’ opening win against Ledyard. Senior captain Lily Cody scored 4 goals and had 3 assists in the victory. Sophomore Amelia Sigersmith netted 3 goals, and senior Chelsea Heinke scored 2 goals to go with 1 assist.
Even with the strong start on the scoreboard, Coach Shriver used Old Saybrook’s performance versus Ledyard as an assessment of things to improve upon moving forward.
“The girls did really well on certain things and not so well on others. The main thing was we had a lot of turnovers,” said Shriver. “They were tentative. They admitted they were nervous and yet they prevailed. That one game with Ledyard was a really helpful game to get going.”
The Rams ironed out a few things heading into their Shoreline final rematch versus North Branford last week. While last year’s loss was a heartbreaker, Old Saybrook came back with an encouraging victory this time around in the first of two meetings between the teams this season.
Despite losing most of the draws, the Rams held the lead over North Branford for the entirety of the contest. Cody had another big game by scoring 7 goals to go with an assist in the win. Senior captain Grace Adams scored 3 goals, freshman Gretchen Kawecki had 2 goals with 2 assists, Heinke scored a pair of goals, and senior Sophia Gormley handed out 3 assists for Old Saybrook.
Wakelee turned in another great performance by making 10 saves and several significant clears from her goalkeeper’s position. Coach Shriver was impressed with his team’s performance in a game that the Rams has been looking forward to for several months.
“That’s always a tough game for us. They have good players and they’re well-coached. It’s a great rivalry and a good matchup,” Shriver said. “Our defense was able to stop their opportunities more than their defense was able to stop our opportunities.”
Old Saybrook finished its week by hitting the road to face non-conference opponent Waterford on April 9. The Rams earned a 9-8 victory in the contest for their third win in as many games this season.
Cody scored 6 goals for the Rams in the win. Heinke had 2 goals, and Kawecki had 1 goal for Old Saybrook. Adams handed out 2 assists, while senior Maddie Beaudoin also contributed an assist. Wakelee earned another win in net for the Rams.
While the Rams brought back the bulk of last year’s team, they did graduate a pair of All-Shoreline Conference captains in Gilly Hartt and Bridget Kawecki. However, Old Saybrook is bolstered by the return of Cody, who was named the Shoreline Conference Player of the Year as a junior last spring and is off to a strong start in her senior season.
“Lily Cody has started off the season very steady,” said Shriver. “She has great balance and great judgment on the field.”
Along with Cody, the Rams also bring back an All-Shoreline Conference Second Team selection from last year with Wakelee in goal. They are also returning several athletes who received All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention in seniors Adams, Heinke, Alexa Coty, and Lilly Sigersmith, along with sophomore Amelia Sigersmith.
Coach Shriver is expecting Old Saybrook to strive for team success as his players work toward their own goals and make steady improvements in their play throughout the season. Three of the freshmen on the Rams’ roster have already earned the opportunity to play in the starting lineup. Shriver sees the talent on his squad and is expecting Old Saybrook to once again be a force within the Shoreline Conference.
“What I’m excited to see is the sum of the skills developed on the field is exceeded by improved team play,” Coach Shriver said. “When they play the best they can play, and I see that potential this season, we should have a decent season. The girls playing their best will make it happen.”
The Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse team’s roster features senior captains Grace Adams, Lily Cody, and Samantha Wakelee; seniors Lorea Aramendi, Lilly Sigersmith, Sophia Gormley, Alexa Coty, Emerson Cook, Chelsea Heinke, and Caroline Ringer; juniors Magdalena Ashe, Juliette Condulis, Maddie Beaudoin, and Weston Richards; sophomore Amelia Sigersmith; and freshmen Gretchen Kawecki, Sydney Webb, Ayla D’Anna, Brooke Webb, Grace Desmond, Cali Morelli, Lila Cadley, and Shea Zundel.