On April 21, the varsity girls lacrosse team celebrated Senior Night with an 18-2 victory against Novato, giving the seniors one last home game to remember before the postseason.
From the very first draw, Redwood dominated possession and controlled the pace of the game.
This game held extra meaning while the team honored their six seniors: Shea Donnelly, Lucy Jeffers, Lucy Miller, Nina Baker, Meg Stevenson and Mimi Wood.
The energy in the field reflected the players’ desire to both win and celebrate the graduating players. Junior Riya Pyle talked about the lasting effects the seniors have had on the entire team this season.
“They are models to all of us, and we all love them so much. We’re gonna miss them so much,” Pyle said.
Before the game began, there was an emotional recognition ceremony for the seniors, who have all contributed greatly to the team, dedicating their time and effort to playing on it for multiple years prior to this one.
After the ceremony, senior Shea Donnelly gave her thoughts on the importance of the moment.
“During the speeches, I definitely felt sad that we are nearing the end of our season and I’ll be done playing, but it was also nice to celebrate our senior year with everyone,” Donnelly said.
The Giants set the tone of the game early, led by Lucy Jeffers, a senior who had torn her ACL just one week before, came out to make a quick but impactful effect by scoring the first goal with an impressive behind-the-back shot.
By halftime, the Giants had secured a 12- 0 lead, which they carried for the rest of the game, keeping Novato on defense for the majority of the game.
The Giants were able to keep control on both ends of the field with their strong defense and offensive scoring.
Despite the frequent subbing changes, allowing other players to be a part of the action, it was easy to see how well the team worked together and communicated on the field. Riya Pyle also talked about the team’s close bond off the field.
“It’s fun seeing everybody in the hallways, and I think we’re just a really cohesive team,” Pyle said.
Seniors Lucy Miller and Shea Donnelley played especially well, demonstrating their skills to the underclassmen who will continue their legacies in the years to come.
Looking forward to the post-season games, Donnelly emphasized how ready the team is and the confidence they have regarding going into Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) games.
“Going into MCALs, I think our team feels very prepared and ready as a whole. We’ve put in a lot of work and I think it’s definitely gonna show,” Donnelly said.
Reflecting on her last moments with the team, Donnelly shared what she will miss the most.
“I’ll miss actually playing, but what I’ll miss most is being able to spend time with all my teammates in car rides, dinner after games and all of the fun team activities we do,” Donnelly said.
