Girls’ lacrosse looked like a team searching for consistency in early April. A lopsided season-opening loss to Sherwood on March 21 exposed early gaps, and a one-goal defeat left the Wildcats sitting at 3-2 with questions to answer.
Three weeks later, that version of the CatLaxKillas is hard to recognize.
“We learned a lot from [Sherwood] and figured out what we need to practice and work on,” sophomore captain Alina MacDermott said.
The Cats have flipped their season with an eight-game winning streak, surging to 9-2 after a commanding 14-5 win against Richard Montgomery on April 28. The offense hit the field faster and more confidently, regularly scoring double digits, while the defense has tightened and closed out close games.
On April 13, WJ traveled to Whitman and escaped with a 9-8 win, a result that could have easily gone the other way. Instead, the Wildcats showed composure late, as MacDermott found the back of the net with 22 seconds to pull the win away. This game set the tone for the run that followed.
On senior night against Churchill, the Cats delivered a complete 10-5 win, controlling the pace from the start and honoring its seniors with one of its best performances of the season.
WJ scored 10 or more goals in six of its next seven games, including a 10-3 win over Northwest and an 11-7 victory over Poolesville. Against Blair on April 23, the Wildcats pulled away a 14-7 win behind a steady attack and disciplined defense. To finish the season, the ladies outscored their opponents 25-12, knocking off Richard Montgomery 14-5 on April 28 and Damascus 11-7 on May 2.
“Throughout the season, we’ve been able to learn from each game and continue to get better and improve our chemistry,” MacDermott said. “I can’t wait for our improvement and hard work to pay off.”
Finishing the season with a 10-2 record, the Cats earned a spot in the County Championship. Played at the neutral site, John F. Kennedy, the game showcased the intense competition the Cats have embraced throughout the second half of this season. Facing a familiar foe, the Sherwood Warriors secured the other spot in the championship matchup.
The CatLaxKillas were not able to keep up with the Warriors, falling behind early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors were crowned the county champions, beating the Wildcats 10-7.
The Wildcats face the Whitman Vikings in the second round of the playoffs tonight, May 8, at 5:00 p.m.
“We’re all really excited for the game tonight because of how close the last one was,” junior captain Julia Zucconi said. “They kicked us out of the playoffs last year, so it will be nice to get this back.”
