Last year’s Becker Bulldog girls lacrosse team was unable to stop the high-powered Maple Grove Crimson in the first round of section play despite scoring a dozen goals.
The final score was 16-12.
Following the match, Head Coach Travis Opgenorth said, “Our year didn't end the way we had wanted it to but we hope that it leads to fuel for our fire for next year.”
Opgenorth, whose team finished the season with a 9-3 record, thinks his team will have a better record despite the fact they lost their starting goalie (Dani Girtz) and will have to rely on newcomer Kelsi Halvorson.
“We have some weapons on offense and we definitely have speed,” said the head coach. “I think we’ll be able to hold our own and even score more goals this year than last.”
Opgenorth will be looking to his three outstanding seniors — Brandy Watercott, Courtney Fobbe and Katie Pursley — to provide leadership and to put the ball in the net on a consistent basis.
“We lost a couple seniors from last year but these girls have been in the program long enough and know what is expected of them,” Opgenorth said.
Fobbe, Watercott and Pursley — along with several other girls on the team — have been playing winter and summer leagues to stay sharp and home their skills for their upcoming senior season.
“We have a lot of talented girls on the team that have been playing together for a long time,” said Fobbe.
“Our defense is good and I’m sure we’ll score goals so I think we’ll be all right this year,” said Pursley.
“Our game is fast-paced and we as seniors are here to provide motivation,” said Watercott. “We are like a family and we get along really well.”
Opgenorth has Allie Simkins, Allie Walberg and Kristen Polworth as his assistants and he expects to have graduate Kelsie Bursch return sometime in the next few weeks to help coach and inspire the girls as the team prepares to go deeper in the playoffs in 2014.
The team looks to be in good health and several players will be switching from playing a period or two on JV to a period or two on varsity at each match.
“I enjoy coaching lacrosse and am so excited to see the girls continue to be great motivators and take responsibility at practices in teaching the younger girls how to go about things,” said Opgenorth. “It’s really a great group of kids.”
The first lacrosse match of the year is scheduled for April 15 (weather permitting) with the Bulldogs hosting Orono at 6:30 p.m.
