By Jake Loomis, Class of ’24 — Senior Sports Writer
The Sharon High Girls Lacrosse team has finally found their new coach in Aisling Lydeard, who has stepped up to become the leader of the program for the 2024 season. Sara Barbara, the Varsity Swim Coach, has also agreed to coach the Junior Varsity team. Anna Hertzel and Keira Lydeard will continue to lead the team as captains for a second straight year. Both have played varsity for the last three years and are looking forward to their fourth season.
Hertzel (pictured on left, above with Freshman Sarah Scappaticci) said when asked about last season, “We had some instability with many coach changes over the past few seasons, but I have high expectations for this season. I am excited to lead this team for a second season and work hard every day to win some games.”
Hertzel has been playing lacrosse since she was in third grade. She says she fell in love with the sport immediately, and her love for the sport will never die. She will also continue to play club lacrosse at the George Washington University.
The team has been practicing throughout the winter and won two winter league championships. This league has brought the team together more than any other winter practice ever had. Captains’ practices have continued throughout the off-season. Senior captains have also been working with the youth lacrosse players for the past few years, encouraging them to stay with the sport and recruiting them to play for the high school team. Hertzel said, “It is amazing to see the freshman improving and playing with us. I remember helping out at their middle school practices and working on the basics. They have all come so far, and I am excited to play with them this season.”
The girls’ winter league teams dominated the other towns, winning some games by 20 points. For the first half of the winter season, the team was missing junior Bailey Garte due to sickness, yet she came back stronger than ever. When they both played, Garte and Hertzel appeared to be a dynamic duo with crazy assists, give-and-gos, and pick-and-rolls. Garte and Hertzel have played together since youth and played club together in middle school and high school. They have always worked together to make amazing plays and passes. Garte says, “We have played with each other for so long so we know each other’s dodges and what we like to do. We give each other a look and know what to do; it’s like we have telepathy.”
This is going to be a tough season, as they will face Franklin and Foxboro, two perennial forces in the Hockomock league, but there are games where the girls will need to put in all of their efforts to win. The captains will continue to encourage the girls to play outside practice and watch college games. Their goal for the season is to improve their skills, beat other teams and get back to their winning ways on the field this spring.
