Winning a conference or state title is hard. It takes a lot of focus, motivation and a constant grind and desire to succeed. The Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse team put all of those features on display when they captured the Shoreline Conference Tournament title with a 14-9 victory over North Branford on May 25 at Indian River Complex in Clinton. The victory marked the Rams’ second consecutive Shoreline crown.

Old Saybrook, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, cruised to a 11-5 victory vs. 3rd-seeded Lyme-Old Lyme in the semifinals on May 23, setting up a third meeting of the season with North Branford in the championship game. The Rams and Thunderbirds had split their previous matchups, taking a game apiece.

In the final, Old Saybrook captured the title through a true team effort. Five different players scored on offense and the Rams defense held North Branford’s potent scoring attack in check — allowing just nine goals, the first time the Thunderbirds failed to score in double digits since April. Anchoring that defense was sophomore goaltender Cali Morelli, who tallied nine saves in the win.

Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Dick Shriver applauded his team up and down the roster for their extraordinary team win and ability to dig deep, producing their best effort of the season when the moment called for it most.

“Everybody (stepped up). Everybody played above their expectations, every single one of them,” said Shriver. “(North Branford was the) toughest team that we played, and five girls did better against them than they had against other teams.”

Shriver gave special kudos to his defense, both in the net and on the back line, for being a catalyst in the victory. He feels the foundation they set throughout the game gave the rest of the squad the confidence that they needed to come through on the offensive end.

“You have to give credit to Weston Richards and Grace Desmond,” Shriver said. “They really fired up the defense. I think that’s part of it. If the defense is playing well the offense is inspired, I don’t think the reverse works as well.”

Taking advantage of those offensive opportunities, the Rams spread out the scoring, tallying their

14 goals through five different players. They were led by senior captain Laura Day, who had five goals and two assists in what Shriver called her “best game of the season,” adding that “her leadership really produced that win.”

Elsewhere, Old Saybrook received scoring from senior captain Maddie Beaudoin, who had three goals, while junior Amelia Sigersmith, sophomore Ayla D’Anna and sophomore Lila Cadley each chipped in with two goals of their own.

The array of goal scorers was especially needed as two of Old Saybrook’s top offensive options were held without a goal in the title game, including league-leading scorer Gretchen Kawecki. North Branford paid extra attention to the Rams’ sophomore star throughout the contest. Shriver recognized how well Kawecki adjusted to this and still managed to impact the outcome.

“Gretchen Kawecki was face-guarded,” said Shriver. “That’s alright, she did her job on the ground balls, on the draws, on the clearing passes and interceptions and was all over the field. She was a threat all over the field even if she didn’t get on the scoreboard.”

Old Saybrook focused on five main keys throughout the season, understanding that mastering them would lead to a successful campaign. After scoring and defense, one of those focuses does not show up in the box score: “riding” or the ability to prevent the opponent from clearing the ball from their own defensive zone. Essentially, if a team can ride an opponent’s clear, they create turnovers in the most dangerous spot on the field, instantly producing scoring chances. This defense leading to quick offense is something that Shriver thinks this team does best and improved upon throughout the season, especially during the Shoreline Conference Tournament.

“That was where we got better and better, riding the other teams clear,” explained Shriver. “We intercepted, we stole the ball away, we broke up a lot of clears, then you have the ball on your end of the field, so it’s a very expensive turnover if you can take the ball away on the ride.”

Old Saybrook (11-2) finished atop a strong Shoreline Conference that featured fierce competition from North Branford (10-2) and Old Lyme (9-4). All three teams qualified for the Connecticut Class S State Tournament.

Old Saybrook senior captain Weston Richards credited the team’s ability to pull together as a unit with getting them through the grinding schedule.

“The Shoreline Conference this season definitely was tough,” said Richards. “To come out on top with a win meant a lot for myself as captain and for the team. Coming into the season with a brand-new team and being able to come out of the Shoreline as champions definitely shows that this season we were at our best when working together and using everyone’s ability and strengths on the field to pull out multiple wins.”

Looking ahead to next year, Shriver recognizes the adjustments that will be needed, especially on defense, to accommodate for four outgoing senior captains. Despite that, he feels the squad will be able to compete in the Shoreline Conference yet again, in pursuit of a third straight title.

“(We have a) large contingent coming back next year,” said Shriver. “Two of four attack players will be back. Grace Desmond will be the only one of the four starting defenders that will be back so we’ll have to build the defense, we may have to move some people around. Our starting goalie will be just a junior next year. You can do a lot with a great goalie.”

The 2023 Old Saybrook girls’ lacrosse roster is comprised of senior captains Beaudoin, Juliette Condulis, Day and Richards; seniors Magdalena Ashe and Brianna Berdiales; junior Sigersmith; sophomores Kawecki, Cadley, Sydney Webb, Brooke Webb, D’Anna, Desmond and Morelli; and freshmen Olive Egbert, Emma Wakelee, Kendall Dobratz and Kathryn DeMeulemeester. Shriver is assisted on the sideline by Rich Shriver and Madison Hartt.