Rye High School’s girls varsity lacrosse team began the 2024 season with high expectations, given their depth and talent. Two weeks into the season, the Garnets have lived up to the hype, racing to a 4-0 start and outscoring their opponents by a lopsided 68-19 in the process.
Rye opened the season March 21 in the frigid cold with a 20-7 win over Lakeland-Walter Panas at Lakeland High School. Senior Lily Whaling had five goals, junior Caroline Doyle had four, and senior Della Goodman added three more.
Next, Rye traveled to Somers High School and turned a March 25 game that was closely contested at halftime into a 16-5 win. Junior Mary Sack had four goals and sophomores Annie Toulouse and Beau Whaling each added three goals.
During spring break, Rye traveled to Long Island to play a nationally ranked perennial (and the 2022 New York state champion) Manhasset High School, in a scrimmage that didn’t factor into this spring’s standings. Showing grit and resilience, Rye came from behind on several occasions and ultimately prevailed in overtime with a 13-12 victory.
With Rye’s Nugent Stadium closed due to flooding, Rye’s March 30 home game against Port Washington was moved to neighboring Mamaroneck High School. Once again, Rye cruised to an easy 15-5 win. Doyle, Goodman and Beau Whaling led the scoring, with three goals each.
Rye residents finally had the opportunity to watch their team play a home game at Nugent on April 5. A previously unbeaten Yorktown High team came to Rye and was soundly defeated 17-2. Rye’s depth was on full display as 10 Garnets made the scoresheet. Whaling and Doyle led the charge with three goals each.
“Depth, great leadership, poise as well as grit and resiliency displayed in the Manhasset game have all contributed to the team’s strong start,” Coach Michelle Mason said.
Rye is to play Suffern High at 2 p.m. Saturday on a field at Nyack High School. The next opportunity to watch the Garnets at home: April 16 at 5 p.m., when they take on nationally ranked Wilton (Conn.) High School (which is 13th in the country as of the April 4 issue of USA Lacrosse Magazine).
