Council Rock North girls lacrosse looking to make some noise in 2016 (GALLERY)
NEWTOWN – Preseason is definitely a vital time for skill-honing, chemistry-building and youthful learning. Veterans can’t wait to return and sharpen their game. Newcomers want to show their worth and rid themselves of any varsity jitters. The Council Rock North girls lacrosse team is presently immersed in this entire process.
Many questions face fourth-year coach Krista Drayton-Vantresca as she hopes her charges can build on last year’s 2-7 league mark. How much depth do the Lady Indians have? Can the aspiring rookies adjust to varsity competition? Will the necessary bonding take place in time for the season opener?
One answer coach Dayton-Vantresca definitely has is who will man the all-important midfield position. Senior captain Devon Mela returns with an already impressive scholastic lacrosse resume.
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As a junior, Devon earned All-Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference first team honors. She led the Indians with 48 goals and 13 assists while recording a team-high 35 draw controls, 26 loose ball controls and 23 caused turnovers. She has already committed to play the sport at Albright College.
Devon started perfecting her game in fourth grade. Having tested several other sports, she settled on lacrosse. “I’ve played a lot of sports since I was younger and this has been my favorite. It’s mix of soccer and field hockey with the rules and stuff. Also, I love running.”
Manning the middie position gives Devon ample opportunity to exercise her legs. “I play midfield and I take the draws. I’m in charge of controlling the draw, whether I want to get it to a teammate or to myself for a possession. I then have to guide both the offensive attack and defense.”
As Devon has learned, winning the draw proves more complex than merely outmuscling your foe. It’s a real science. “You have to read the other player and see how they are holding their stick and which way their body is positioned. You always want to pull the opposite way and direct the ball.”
The direction of the pull leaves two options. “If I see one of my players is open and in a good position to get the ball, I’ll try to get it to her. If not, and I see they are being covered, I can get in front of the other drawer and get it to myself. I look at all the defense before I set up my position to draw.”
Devon has several capable teammates on the receiving end of her passes. A prime target is junior Anna Lehman who has already committed to Lehigh University. Last season, Anna scored 39 goals and had 20 assists. She caused 21 enemy turnovers and gained control of 35 loose balls. Others aiding the attack are Clara Jarema, Emily Booth, Gabby Shephard and Greta Rolle.
When the action reverses, the Indians’ defense should rally around junior goaltender Margaret D’Auria. She is amply supported by Lauren D’Amelia, Megan Haggerty and Cora Depalo.
All told, Devon believes the Rock possesses the necessary team balance. “Looking back at last year’s record when we only won five games and seeing the way we have been playing in both our scrimmages, I think we have the potential. We have a lot of players still learning and I think they’re improving a lot. We have a good bond on attack. Our defense is really strong. The communication throughout the entire field is good.”
In their first scrimmage, the Indians outscored a strong Villa Jo Marie team led by Penn State-bound Sam Del Viscio. The contest proved a solid testing ground for the new look Indians.
“It was the first scrimmage so our coach said this is time to try things, take a left-handed shot that you normally wouldn’t take. It was a time to try things, especially for the younger girls. We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so they’re still kind of timid.”
Having gotten that proverbial taste of varsity play, the Rock was ready for its next outing against Upper Dublin.
“We ran a lot more of our plays against Upper Dublin. Villa was a closer game so it was all about fast breaks. In the Upper Dublin game, we were up a lot so we took time to work our plays. If we have that constant motion we can create opportunities.”
Both scrimmages chartered areas of the Indians’ game that still need work. “Some of the young girls need to be less timid. We need to work on passing, transition, and certain slides on defense.”
The Rock will undoubtedly refine these areas. After only two scrimmages, they have already shown the growth necessary for a strong 2016 campaign.
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