[VIDEO] NHS Girls’ Lax Thrives in Opener

NARRAGANSETT – The Pilgrim Patriots are still looking for their first-ever win in girls’ lacrosse, as Narragansett thumped them 18-8 in the Mariners’ home opener.

Pilgrim scored the game’s first goal, but Narragansett scored the next four, and then the next nine. Junior varsity players finished out the final 20 minutes of the game. Also, per RIIL rules, the clock was running once the Mariners went up by 10 goals.

Head coach Ken Andronowitz said it would be a more balanced, team approach this year, since leading scorer Kiani Carroll graduated from the 2011 team.

“It’s a good mix of players that really get along,” he said. “We have three new captains. They’re all good and the team vote them in unanimously.”

The lone seniors – Samantha Sabetti and Gianna Tucker – both serve as captains, along with junior Chandler Lemay.

The Mariners lost seven seniors from last year’s playoff squad, but picked up a slew of freshmen that all started against Pilgrim – Brooke McGreen, Abby McKanna, Carly Timpson, Eily Sullivan, Sarah Lubic, and Ashley Kennedy. Junior Jessica Trautman, a transfer from the track team, also starts.

“Last year we made it to the playoffs,” Andronowitz said. “This year, we want to make it past the first round.”

Andronowitz said it didn’t hurt that several players had championship experience, either because of girls’ soccer titles in 2010 and 2011, or girls’ basketball in 2011-12, but he joked that it put some pressure on him.

“I saw [coach] Kathryn [Mahoney] just last week, and said, ‘Man, I got some big shoes to fill,’” he said, laughing. “This group of kids, they’re focused.”

Andronowitz said he would have a better gauge on his teams championship potential midway through the season. He saw Division II as full of parity overall.

“We’ll be able to tell then,” he said. “They’re doing all the right things now.”