Since they have won 11 of their first 12 games this season, you might say Rye Country Day School’s girls lacrosse team has been dominating the competition.
Senior co-captain and defender Grace Allen attributes the team’s success to players who “step up and take on responsibility in the midfield and attack.” She noted that “this year we have a pretty young team… [yet] we’ve been really competitive in our leagues.”
Last year, the Wildcats had a regular-season record of 10 wins and four losses and reached the final of the New York State Association of Independent Schools tournament. But in spite of having beaten their local rival, Hackley School of Tarrytown, 20-10 in the regular season, they fell to them in the statewide final, 10-9.
So far this year, “one of the biggest highlights was beating Hackley on their field,” senior co-captain Morgan Harvey said. Harvey had five assists in RCDS’ April 11 revenge game against Hackley, a 20-7 triumph. Junior Sydney Cohn and freshman Maya Torgalkar combined for 10 goals, while freshman Elle Mason contributed four.
“We are emphasizing team and team work this year. We know what makes a successful season and ultimately wins championship,” Coach Georgette Summers said. RCDS’ depth has meant the scoring has been spread around, from senior co-captain Brynn Coady to eighth-grader Ailey Denson. Key to the Wildcats defense include midfielder Bailey Donovan and goalie Bella Wise.
Holy Child proved to be the Wildcats’ toughest adversary so far this season, narrowly defeating them 13-14 on April 26. On the other hand, the Wildcats’ triumph over Greens Farms Academy on April 23 was their first victory against that school since 2018.“
Together this team has taken our program to the next level,” Summers said. “We are working hard to earn the No. 1 seed in the NYSAIS tournament — and win the tournament.”
Allen said the chemistry this year is right for that kind of success.
“Everyone comes to practice to work hard and be productive,” the captain said, “but we are also able to have a great time together as friends, not just as teammates, which I think is a big factor in our success this year.”