After a 4-0 start to the season, Rye High School’s girls lacrosse team has won three of its last five games, with the two losses coming by only one- and two-goal margins.

In a likely preview of this year’s regional Class C finals, undefeated Nyack High (ranked 18th in New York as of the April 23 issue of USA Lacrosse Magazine), came to Rye on April 10 determined to avenge last year’s two narrow losses to Rye – including once in the region’s Section 1 playoffs.

Their determination was apparent from the opening whistle, as Nyack raced to a 9-4 lead by halftime. A furious Rye comeback tied the game at 10, but Nyack prevailed with a 13-11 win. Senior Lily Whaling led Rye with three goals, while senior Mali White and sophomore Beau Whaling each added two in the losing effort.

Rye next traveled to Nyack High School to play Suffern High in the One Love Tournament (created to increase awareness of domestic violence). The Garnets did not let the relentless rain bother them as they raced to an early lead and never looked back in an 11-6 win. Beau Whaling led the team with three goals. Junior Mary Sack, freshman Mary Ebeling, and Lily Whaling each added two goals. Goalie Katherine Ebeling had six saves. Sack and Lily Whaling received One Love all-tournament honors for their outstanding play.

On April 16, Rye played Wilton (Connecticut) High School, the 10th-ranked team in the country, at Nugent Stadium. The Garnets, showing poise and beaming with confidence, raced to an 11-3 lead and kept it at a five-goal margin by the end of the third quarter. Wilton mounted an incredible fourth-quarter rally, but fell short. Rye left the field with a 15-14 victory in what was arguably the most significant win

in the history of the school’s girls lacrosse program. Lily Whaling led Rye with five goals, while junior Caroline Doyle added three goals and two assists. A total of seven Rye players contributed to the 15 goals that secured the win.

On April 19, the Garnets overwhelmed an overmatched Scarsdale team at home by a score of 15-4. Sack and Lily Whaling each scored three goals in the decisive victory.

The following day, still at home, Rye played a talented Ridgefield (Connecticut) High School team (which includes players already committed to playing at University of North Carolina and Syracuse University). Those fortunate enough to be in the stands were treated to a highly competitive lacrosse game between two incred- ibly skilled high school teams. The match was closely contested throughout, with Ridgefield pulling off the win, 12-11. The difference in the game was the play of Ridgefield’s goalie, Hannah Gilland, who 13 times denied the Garnets’ excellent attempts at goal. With their 7-2 start, including a win over a national powerhouse, the Rye players are excited about the second half of the season and the challenges that lie ahead. The Garnets head to New Rochelle on Saturday, April 27, to take on the Ursuline School at 11 a.m., then return to Nugent Stadium to play New Canaan (Connecticut) High, ranked fifth in the country, at 5 p.m. Monday, April 29.