You could say Marblehead’s girls lacrosse team had a season to be proud of this spring. After finishing 7-11 last year and missing out on the Division 2 state tournament, the Magicians reloaded and came back strong, going 12-6 and clinching a postseason spot.
Marblehead graduated 10 seniors from last year’s team, leaving a big hole to fill. Fortunately for Head Coach Annie Madden, who has been at the helm since 2011, her next group of seniors was ready to lead by example.
Coming into the season, Madden said a strength of the team was its chemistry and work ethic.
“This group is already showing great determination and a strong bond, which will help us push each other and succeed throughout the season,” Madden said.
Led by seniors Maddie Forbes, Ramona Gillett, Rachel Delisle, Courtney Hoguet, Caitlyn Ryan, Gretchen Smith, and Liv Goldwater, the Magicians set the tone and finished with a Northeastern Conference record of 10-3 (6-2 in the Dunn Division).
One of the more memorable games came in April, when Marblehead hosted Peabody. The Magicians edged the Tanners, 11-10, in a back-and-forth matchup between two of the conference’s top teams. Marblehead led, 7-6, at halftime, and in the second half, got a bit of magic from one of its senior captains.
With three seconds remaining in the game, tied 10-10, Forbes found herself in a dangerous area. As she had done all season, Forbes fired a quick shot that found the back of the net to seal a thrilling win over Peabody. It was Forbes’ fourth goal of the game to go with three assists.
“It was an incredible game and we are proud of how our girls showed grit and resiliency from start to finish,” Madden said.
For a goalie, it takes time to adjust to the speed of the game, positioning, and effective communication – it’s even harder when you’re an underclassman.
Last year, Molly Bullard started as a freshman and made a strong first impression. This year, with another year of experience, she elevated her game with several clutch saves.
In the win against Peabody, Bullard made 11 saves. In a pressure-filled game against Masconomet – which the Magicians also won – she again made 11 stops to keep Marblehead ahead.
Although Marblehead exited the tournament against No. 10 Grafton (14-6), it was a season full of positives for Madden and company.
With plenty of underclassmen gaining experience, the Magicians will look to build on this year’s success next spring.
