Some freshmen can step onto a varsity playing field with feelings of trepidation and intimidation, but this has not been the case for Lily Panuccio. She was thrust into not only a starting varsity spot, but also at one of the more high-stress assignments on the field, and she passed the test with flying colors with a great sense of maturity.

Lily started lacrosse all the way back in first grade, before playing at the club level in fifth grade. She also started in field hockey along the way, also being a goalkeeper for the Branford field hockey team in the fall. This past spring for the girls’ lacrosse squad, Lily fearlessly stepped into the spotlight as a freshman starting netminder for the Hornets and performed admirably enough to notch Second Team All-SCC accolades.

“My whole family plays lacrosse, and I just love connecting with them and my friends through the sport while trying to get to our highest level of success together,” says Lily. “What has helped me is having very supportive parents. They drive me to every practice and game. Goalkeeper is a very mentally-tough position, so I am lucky to have my parents and their support.”

Being the last line of defense on the field in protecting the Hornets’ net, the mental pressure can weigh heavily on Lily. Yet she counters it by simply staying in the moment and knowing her worth to make those heart-stopping saves.

“Again, keeper is a really tough position, and so it can be easy to put yourself down and get overwhelmed. It can be easy to blame yourself when something goes wrong and forget the rest of the team,” says Lily. “When it comes to a mistake or goal allowed, you have to remember the whole team is involved. My favorite part of playing goalkeeper is when you make those big saves to help the team or win a game. You cannot think too much about things that went wrong; you have to move onto the next play.”

Speaking more to the mental element of the sport, Lily adds that she knows what she is capable of and that she is a high-caliber competitor. It also helps when she has the added benefit of an incredible support system of colleagues and coaches at her back.

“I just try to remind myself that I am a good player when I get down and also that I trust my abilities,” Lily says. “I also tell myself that it is not all on me, and I have my entire team’s support. There are four quarters in a game, so I have plenty of time to make up for any mistakes.”

Lily is always looking to better herself and is very aware that the journey of improvement is a ride that never stops. She explains her ability to get a message across is quite strong, though she is working diligently to get her body moving to the ball and making calls on the fly.

“There is always room for improvement as a player,” says Lily. “I think my communication skills are one of my best assets, along with focusing on the mental side of being a player and dealing with things. I think I can improve upon my quickness to the ball and my snap decision-making skills.”

In recapping the 2024 campaign for Branford, Lily knows the girls stormed out of the gate to a rousing start. They did struggle with being steady as the season wore on, but no matter the result of any given contest, they won and lost together as a team and strengthened as a unit.

“We started last year strong,” says Lily. “We had a little trouble with consistency, but we stuck together and played until the end together. I think we grew closer together off the field as time wore on, and it helped make the year so much fun.”

Branford girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Caitlin O’Brien praises Lily for her courageousness of stepping into the fire as a freshman between the pipes. Though it comes as little shock how she handled the spotlight, given her intangibles of selflessness and determination.

“This year, freshman Lily proved to be an invaluable addition to our team. Stepping into the role of starting goalie, she faced immense pressure with grace and determination. Lily is not only an outstanding athlete, but she is also an exceptional person who consistently prioritized the team above all else, leaving everything on the field every game,” says O’Brien. “Her dedication and selflessness have made her the backbone of our defense, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team. Looking ahead, we feel immensely grateful and excited to have Lily with us for the next three seasons.”

Lily remains grounded, as she gets ready to attack various turfs as a superb stopper in the future. She is certainly quite pleased with her all-league recognition. She concludes that all she needs to worry about is performing at her peak on a daily basis no matter the season, and the rest will take care of itself.

“I try to keep myself humble,” says Lily. “Making All-SCC Second Team was great. But I know if I just focus on my game and skills, then good things will come like team wins. I am very excited for the rest of my high school career.”