Girls’ lacrosse makes history in NCS final
May 16, 2022
The varsity girls’ lacrosse team made history this past week by winning the Division 1 North Coast Section (NCS) title on May 12, claiming their place as the top team in Northern California. After an impressive battle with the No. 2 seed San Ramon Valley (SRV), the Giants skillfully took control of the game and finished with a score of 14-12, ranking them No. 7 in California, according to Max Preps.
With 10 seniors on the team, head coach Lauren Yee noted the monumental legacy that the class of 2022 will have on the program.
“[The seniors] have a ton of respect for each other, and they have not only done so much on the field but so much off of the field. Really, more so than anything, they’ve established a culture for this program. [They created a culture] that’s not really representative of just showing up at practice, but also the inclusivity, support, encouragement, energy and fight which will be remembered for a long time,” Yee said.
The senior class racked up a total of 13 out of the 14 goals scored in the game. Senior and co-captain Grace Minturn led the tally with seven goals, and co-captain Megan Minturn scored three goals as well as four draw controls and four ground balls. Senior and co-captain Harper Glass had a hat trick, one assist and five draw controls. According to Glass, this game was reflective of how hard the team has worked this season.
“SRV was a hard competition but I also didn’t want to play another team. I didn’t want it any other way for the championship because I think when we face those hard battles, we really show our work ethic and come out even stronger. It pulls us together and forces us to communicate and rely on each other,” Glass said.
After letting three goals in at the beginning of the first half, the outcome seemed uncertain as SRV’s offense started out strong. However, Grace and Glass gained back the Giants’ momentum, scoring five goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half.
“We started off slow, and we faced some challenges. We had to adjust, but then we picked it up. I think it’s all about your attitude, like, ‘okay they just scored, but we’re going to score now.’ You just have to get right back in it because the next [goal] counts,” Glass said.
The team ended its season with a 20-3 record and a Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) win, advancing the farthest out of any girls’ lacrosse team in Redwood’s history.
Goalie and junior Emme Turkington emphasized the work that was put into the season from the very beginning.
“It’s surreal. There hasn’t been a single second where we haven’t been focusing on winning MCALs and making it to NCS, and it’s so exciting to see this moment for all of our seniors,” Turkington said.
While 10 seniors are graduating, Turkington believes that the mark they left will continue for years to come.
“I think we just have to keep the streak alive. It’s hard losing the seniors, but I think we’re going to do our best to try and keep this winning streak up and hopefully continue our legacy into next year,” Turkington said.
