Junior Girls LAX Kicks Off Season With 10-Goal Outburst

While Mother Nature wasn't very kind, thwarting practices and pushing the opening game, the Long Valley Junior Girls Lacrosse team got its 2014 season off to a strong start, netting 10 goals against Mt. Olive.

The teams played to a 10-10 tie, but with limited practice time and two players new to the game entirely, it was a happy opening to the spring campaign.

Led by coach Courtney Darche and assistant Sarah Spano – a former Long Valley lacrosse player herself – five of the players hit the back of the net against their Morris County opponent. Sarah Foran, Johanna Diehl, Nicole Legg, Maddie Selvaggi, and Faith Spaziano all grabbed their first goals of the season in game one.

"Before each game we sit together and discuss what we have worked on and how to apply it to achieve success during our time on the field; afterwards we sit and talk about what we did well and need to focus on," said Darche. "One of the best qualities our girls have is the ability to be self-reflective and to sit down and say, 'We did a great job with ground balls and taking the draws, but next time we need to step up our defense and communicate more.'"

The squad includes 23 players with Sarah Guida as the team's goalie. The entire roster is comprise of: 

• Megan Baker
• Amy Barron
• Lexy DePew
• Johanna Diehl
• Sarah Foran
• Sarah Guida
• Isabella Gonzalez
• Lauren Hamilton
• Caroline Hoffman
• Elizabeth Jasek
• Heidi Krueger
• Nicole Legg
• Gabby Marino
• Cami Ortiz
• Samantha Ramos
• Maddie Selvaggi
• Rebecca Smith
• Faith Spaziano
• Brooke VanderLaan
• Rachel Wells
• Jill Wilson
• Gillian Zavaglia