Girls’ lacrosse, in it’s third year at Darlington and it’s first year as a GHSA sanctioned sport, is making its mark on Georgia High School Lacrosse. At mid-season their record stands at 4-0 in their eight-team region, 4-3 overall. Nearing the end of the season, the Lady Tigers are ranked number two in their Area 1 region, as listed by LaxPower.com, a lacrosse computer-rating site. They look to play the region leader, Roswell, as their last home game in Chris Hunter stadium on April 18.
The team is 19 members strong, with ten girls new to the sport. Lead by captains junior Collins Davidson and senior Susan Harbin, the team will lose four graduating seniors, Harbin, Jessica Pesterfield, Tara Kirkland and Lindsay Martin. “Although these starting seniors will be sorely missed, the team looks to be strong next year as the newcomers are working hard to fill their spots” said Penny Braden, girls lacrosse head coach. A leader in defense, Davidson was voted Player of the Week by DiVarsity.com for the first week of April.
“As a coach new to the sport of lacrosse, I am very proud of the girls,” said Braden. “They have pushed each other, been tremendous assistant coaches, and have an excellent chance of winning their region and gaining a prime spot in the area playoffs, not to mention an outstanding opportunity at a State Championship.”
Lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. It requires precision, agility and stamina. Players are required to master the art of throwing, catching and scooping the ball with a stick, or crosse. Unlike the men’s version of the sport, girls do not wear protective gear and must therefore rely on meticulous stick skills and diligent defense. Darlington’s girls have done an excellent job of developing these basic techniques, both experienced and new players alike. They have only to put the skills together as a team to accomplish a winning season.
Darlington will host tryouts for the Georgia-Tennessee National Tournament Team on Sunday, April 21. This event promises to attract the best players from two states to be evaluated and chosen by a selected Head Coach. Each year the US Lacrosse Organization hosts the National Tournament for Women’s Lacrosse. Select teams from different regions of the country compete against one another in both high school and college/club level divisions. The US National Squad will be there to play as well. This is a great opportunity for girls in high school to see high levels of lacrosse, to compete competitively with the best from their region against the best of other regions, and to be seen by college coaches. Darlington has several hopefuls participating in the tryouts with a terrific possibility of joining this National Team.
