Adjustments paying off for Waltham High School girls lacrosse team

The most valuable characteristic a team can have is sometimes the ability to modify its approach when the situation calls for it.

The Waltham High School girls lacrosse team has this essential attribute, and it is translating to wins on the field.

“We had some things we needed to work on, in terms of timing with each other, things like that,” head coach Jill Cannon said. “We focused on how we can play better as a group. This team has an incredible bond, and when you have those friendships, it makes changes a lot easier.”

The Hawks jumped out to a scintillating 3-0 start to the campaign. The positive momentum ceased, however, as the team dropped its subsequent quartet of contests.

“We had to make some defensive adjustments,” Cannon said. “We actually put in a whole new unit on defense. That really helped us shape the mold of what was going to happen moving forward. These girls have done a lot of reflecting. Some years you don’t get those players that want to reflect and are motivated to win and learn. It has really paid off.”

Thanks to the open-minded nature of its players, the team is now on a roll. WHS shut down Lowell High School to the tune of a 19-6 victory, knocked off Wakefield Memorial High School and steamrolled Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 18-2, at home last Thursday.

This win over the CRLS Falcons was a special one for the Hawks, as it came in front of a boisterous crowd gathered to promote Morgan’s Message. This program was created to advocate for the importance of student-athlete mental health, and the team is engaged in supporting the cause, recognizing the critical nature of positive well-being on and off the field.

“The girls have faced a lot of adversity this year in the community, and they have worked really hard in thinking about how we can make our team’s mentality stronger both in terms of lacrosse and all around,” Cannon said. “This movement was started to show that athletes are so much more than just athletes and how we need to normalize these conversations around mental health. It needs to be treated as deeply as physical health for these athletes. They are under immense pressure. These girls have reflected a lot this year on who is there for them and who shows up through the highs and lows.”

The victory was a great display of camaraderie from the group, which has received contributions from numerous players over the course of the season.

On offense, captains Quinn Gavin, Kayla Mackenzie and Steph Furbush are spearheading the charge. Sophomore Mia Kearney has benefited from their leadership, picking up nearly 100 points already this season while pocketing the team lead in goals.

The opposite side of the field has been guided by goaltender Leah France, who garnered a career-best 20 saves in the triumph over Wakefield.

The Hawks play in one of the tougher conferences in the state. The Dual County League claims three of the top five teams in the current MIAA Division 1 power rankings. However, the group has the right mindset, suited to deal with any obstacles that might appear.