Earlier in the 12 months, after senior Emma Pickering went down together with her second ACL damage in 4 years, the group selected her uniform quantity to signify its season.
All 12 months lengthy, intervals of seven had been their markers for achievement: They performed scrimmages with a goal rating of seven targets or did conditioning with 14 burpees or 21 push-ups. After Saturday’s loss, the group’s seniors (coincidentally, seven of them) discovered solace in the season after reflecting on what their time collectively represented. Several of the ladies have identified one another since kindergarten.
That senior class consists of Lydia Oldknow, who usually discovered herself on the heart of the motion in the title recreation and over the course of her profession, with greater than 135 targets throughout her final two seasons. Fellow offensive star Paige Fox, who scored two early targets earlier than selecting up two yellow playing cards and exiting the sport, mentioned lacrosse formed her time as a highschool pupil.
“I always say this, but the one thing I can take away from high school, because of how horrible high school is, is Riverside lacrosse,” Fox mentioned whereas laughing. “Spending every day with these girls has brought out the best in me.”
Oldknow and Fox had been a part of an offense that struck first and saved the sport shut early on in Ashburn for the Rams (17-3). Though it took a few missed alternatives to get the Rams going, they ultimately discovered a number of open pictures and took a 2-0 lead.
Freeman (15-1), although, discovered its rhythm quickly after Riverside’s robust begin and constructed an 8-5 lead by halftime, with a number of late targets and commanding showings from senior Lucy Larkin and junior Bridget Wilson. Riverside’s deficit snowballed after Freeman’s 4-1 run to open the second half.
Still, the Rams may have a good time their seniors, equivalent to Lauren Greig, who racked up greater than 100 assists in 2021 and 2022 mixed and performed with a chipped tooth and suffered damaged bones throughout her time with the Rams.
Joining her was Brooklyn Morrison, who repeatedly known as the group “a family”; Emily Robinson, who described the conclusion of their careers as a “full-circle moment”; and Emma Scott, whom Coach Kristan Ash described because the group’s quiet chief and a “groundball vacuum.”
“I would say a lot of people join sports because they see it as a way to participate in school, but specifically this team, I think, is the epitome of friendship,” Scott mentioned. “These coaches become your second mothers over time, and these girls become your sisters.”