With 12 seconds left in the game, the Wayland girls’ varsity lacrosse team was down by one goal against Dover-Sherborn High School. Then, as a sophomore, Amy Cunningham got the ball from the goalie and took off. With seven seconds left, Cunningham sprinted across the field before passing the ball to a teammate. Her teammate scored to tie the game with less than two seconds left.

Now a senior, Cunningham remembers those last few seconds of the game as one of her favorite lacrosse memories. The sport has become an indispensable part of Cunningham’s life.

“I love the adrenaline rush that I get when I play,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham began playing in third grade because her father had played in college and was a big fan of the sport. However, it wasn’t until seventh grade that Cunningham joined Revolution Lacrosse, a club team, and became serious about the sport.

Playing for her club team helped Cunningham improve because she was surrounded by a high level of talent and dedication.

“Even though the high school team is very good, everyone on my club team is going to play Division I lacrosse,” Cunningham said. “Everyone’s really into it and puts the same amount of time that I do, and that makes a pretty big difference.”

Currently, Cunningham practices every Sunday with her club team. In June and July she participated in tournaments each weekend. Some of these tournaments were showcase tournaments that college recruiters attended.

During the school year, Cunningham plays for the WHS varsity team and will be a captain this upcoming spring. Cunningham has played for the varsity team since her freshman year and has consistently been one of the team’s top players. She scored 52 goals her first season. Her sophomore year, she had a team-high 101 goals. Last season, Cunningham scored over 80 goals. This success has continuously given her more confidence.

“I was pretty pumped about making varsity freshman year,” Cunningham said. “That’s when I knew I actually had a chance at being good. I had a pretty good season for a freshman, and it just went on from there.”

With Cunningham, the team has made the postseason tournament each of the last three years. Last year, the girls fell to Marblehead High School in the semifinals. This year, Cunningham hopes to improve on that result.

“When I was a freshman, we were more of an up-and-coming team that was getting better each year,” Cunningham said. “This year, I think we’re going to be really strong, and so I absolutely think we can make the state championship. It’ll take a lot of work, but that’s my goal.”

Next year, Cunningham will bring her talents to George Washington University, where she has already committed to play Division I lacrosse.

“I went to a camp for three days over the summer, and I met the whole team, stayed with them, and I automatically fell in love with the school,” Cunningham said. “I’m already really close with the girls in my recruiting class. I really liked the whole team aspect they had at the school and how the lacrosse program worked.”