Sacred Heart Greenwich’s varsity lacrosse team traveled to Clearwater, Florida Sunday, March 19 for a spring training trip to bond as a team, practice fundamental skills, and prepare for the upcoming season.
Instead of traveling to International Management Group (IMG) Academy in Bradenton, Florida for training as in previous years, the team stayed and practiced 45 miles north in Clearwater. The team traveled by bus to David Martin Fields, a lacrosse training facility located in a local park, each day to practice.
“In Clearwater, the competition was better than last year at IMG, and being on the beach definitely created a better environment for team bonding,” junior Christina DeConcini said.
The team practiced with four Sacred Heart coaches including Mrs. Tara Clough, Ms. Sabina O’Reilly, Ms. Rachel Zurheide, and Mr. Ryan Penner. The Sacred Heart Tigers first scrimmaged Hackley School from Tarrytown, New York and won 13 to ten.
The team worked on improving basic skills including passing, shooting, and ground balls. In the first match, the team lost eight to seven to Rivers Academy, a high school located in Georgia.
The team took a break from lacrosse practice Wednesday to prepare physically and mentally for the season by having a one-hour session of beach yoga.
In the afternoon, the team played a round robin, which is a tournament where each team plays each other. First, the Sacred Heart lacrosse team tied the Pingry School’s team from Bernards Township, New Jersey five to five. Then, Sacred Heart beat Thayer Academy from Braintree, Massachusetts with a score of seven to five. Sacred Heart lost six to three in its final game to Nobles and Greenough School from Dedham, Massachusetts. The team finished the day by playing beach volleyball and going to a local ice cream shop.
At the end of the trip, Sacred Heart played against Nobles again and beat its team by four points.
Overall, the athletes thought the training trip was beneficial to the upcoming season.
“The trip enabled us to bond as a team on and off the field. We improved our skills and learned how to play with each other as a team, especially since there are a few new players. I think that the trip was a great way to start the season, and I look forward to the rest of the spring with this team,” senior and captain Grace Paletta said.
Sacred Heart varsity lacrosse team’s first home game is March 29 at 4:30 pm.
– Jackie Shannon, Staff Writer