2005 Girls' Lacrosse Preview
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Thanks to a spring-break training trip to Orlando, Florida and some tough practices since, the forces are coming together for another winning season for the Blake Bears girls’ lacrosse team. With a 12-3 record and 2nd place state finish in 2004, Blake was recently dubbed the number 1 team in the state in the 2005 coaches’ ratings. But despite entering its 11th season with the return of 13 letter winners, Blake’s Head Coach Debra Wood actually considers 2005 a rebuilding year.
With a 2005 team deep in athleticism and skill, but only five returning starters, several players are quickly stepping up to overcome the key losses left by ten 2004 graduating seniors. Therefore, Head Coach Debra Wood starts the season with what she likes to call a “fluid roster”. “We have a lot of talent this year,” says Coach Wood, “and we’ll continue to develop our game to create the best team possible.” Now in her 22nd year of coaching high school athletes with an 11-year Blake record of 87-7-2, it’s easy to see why Wood’s girls’ lacrosse team is referred to as a perennial powerhouse in Minnesota. And hoping that Blake captures the state’s top title at the end of the season, the team’s motto this year is “Make it Happen” with that very goal in mind.
Leading the Bear’s 2005 offense and defense respectively are this season’s senior captains Charlotte Hitch and Kendall Boyd. Hitch (All State Honorable mention), who earned a 2004 regular season double-double with 22 goals and 25 assists, is joined on the field by senior scoring leaders Libby Murphy (All State Second team), Laura Vincent, Tara Dubbs and Ali Cram. The promising potential of several underclassmen combine for Blake’s controlling midfield and offensive arsenal including juniors Ellie Barczak, Sara Lannin and Abby Lawrence; sophomores Kristine Admunson, Katherine Chute, Julia Heffelfinger, Marissa Echtenkamp and Jennings Grant; and freshman Emily Moos.
Boyd, a dominate force and the remaining backbone of Blake’s 2004 impenetrable defense, is joined this season by seniors Geneviere Broche and Ashley Bjork; juniors Tory Patterson and Alexandra Masko; sophomore Maggie Rogers; and 2nd year varsity freshman Jamie McLaughlin, who was a key contributor during the 2004 state tournament. Senior Jackie Star, also coming off a successful 2004 season, is joined in the net by another senior goalie Amanda Lillington and 8th grader Keegan Dubbs.
And speaking of Dubbs, the 2005 Bears have something of a sister act going on this year with three 8th grade siblings also earning early spots on the varsity roster. In addition to Keegan Dubbs (Tara Dubbs ’05) in goal, both Margaret Chute (Katherine Chute ’08) and Katherine Vincent (Laura Vincent ’05) promise strong contributions at midfield this season.
Joining Coach Wood this season are two new additions to the coaching staff in JV Coach Sherry Felker and Assistant Coach Anna Trafton. Also, the Bears 2005 game schedule adds one more game for a total of 13 this season to accommodate the growth of the MSHSL to 14 teams in total. Joining the newcomer ranks are Minnetonka, Visitation and Breck. Of the remaining nine teams, Hopkins is ranked 2nd this year with last year’s state champions, Eden Prairie, coming in 3rd in the coaches poll.
How it will all shake out in the end is what the upcoming season will help determine. But if the Bears have their say, they’ll make it happen and finish 2005 the same way it started – Blake #1!
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