Credit: Natalie Greenaway

During a 2025 game, senior captain Sofia DiCarlo defends the ball from an Acton-Boxborough attacker.

The varsity girls lacrosse team is coming from a successful 2025 season with a record of nine wins and nine losses, as well as making the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division III semifinals where they fell to Medfield.

Coming into this season, the team is looking to fill the gaps that held seniors last year. The team lost 11 seniors, including Division I lacrosse commit Jillian Mele and Division III lacrosse commit Jane Tardif, who were both top goal scorers. With the younger team, the preparation has been constant as they’ve had weekly Crunch Time workout sessions, as well as Sunday scrimmages against various surrounding towns. Crunch Time prepares the team with multiple different workouts and opportunities to practice stick work with other teams from different towns.

“Our goal this year has been to unite the program more than it has been in the past year before the season even starts,” senior captain Annie Melander said. “Winter league and Crunch time have been two great opportunities to play with the girls program wide.

The captains this season are Melander and seniors Mackenzie Morris and Sofia DiCarlo and coached by head coach Ashley Means and assistant coach Allie Sears. However, midway through the season, the team will lose Sears to maternity leave.

The team will consist of players from all grades, but the class of 2027 dominates the team in numbers. This includes newly junior Elle Mueller, who recently committed to play Division II lacrosse at Saint Michael’s College.

“This year we are using the New England Patriots motto: ‘We All We Got, We All We Need,’ to encourage unity and teamwork throughout the season,” Melander said. “The program has become smaller, so we are trying to stay connected between the two teams in one program.”

One of the team’s goals is to have a winning season and earn another chance to play in the final four and make it to the championship.

“Since my freshman year I have had the opportunity to make it into the state tournament, and I hope to continue that streak for my final season,” Melander said. “Between our team dynamic and awesome coaching staff I feel super hopeful we will be able to make it to the state tournament again.”

The team’s first game is at home on Friday, March 27, against Westborough High School. When asked what one word describes the team heading into the season, Melander said “persistence.”

“This year’s extra special because we have already had almost all the freshman class as a part of the program last season due to low numbers,” Melander said. “It feels like we already have higher chemistry.”