Season Preview: Talented Girls Lacrosse Team Begins New Era

The girls lacrosse program was built and flourished under the leadership of Jami Lower for years, but following her retirement from coaching at the conclusion of last year, the program enters a new era under Kelly Brown – with some experienced players meshing with younger, talented players in the pipeline to form an intriguing girls lacrosse team this spring.

"I think overall, the work ethic here, everyone is very committed and committed to lacrosse just across grades," Brown said when asked what has impressed her most about her players so far. "Even with eighth graders who we have playing on JV this year, even with them, everyone's committed to playing hard. I love that. You can't teach effort. This team is really starting to mesh."

Brown played Division 1 lacrosse at UMass Amherst as a defender and has several years of experience coaching club lacrosse, as well as experience as an assistant varsity lacrosse coach. She revealed her Mom is a professional head coach, who had a stint at William & Mary and has been in the coaching field since Brown was three years old.

Brown has been impressed with the senior leadership early on. Senior defender Myah Johnson and senior attacker Dylan Damian return and are team captains once again.

“All the seniors have really stepped up and I appreciate that being new and all,” Brown said. “Myah and Dylan are awesome players. Dylan is going to be a superstar on offense, Myah the same on defense. It is exciting to have good players, but more exciting to have good players who are good leaders.”

Junior Ella Douglas will return as the team’s starting goalie, Brown confirmed, and has liked what she has seen from her early on.

“She is very good,” Brown said. “She is quick and has really good instincts.”

Some younger players that have been impressing Brown are sophomore Grace Schroeder, freshman Finley Herlihy, and freshman Ruby Steadman. All three should contribute offensively.

“Grace is super fast and she’s going to definitely be a great midfielder,” Brown said. “Finley is great. Sometimes when I am watching her play, I forget that she is a freshman. She’s just very confident and she moves confident. Ruby Steadman also is just very athletic and really confident being a freshman.”

Nantucket opens their season on Monday, March 30^th on the road against the Nauset Warriors at 3:30 p.m. You can view the full girls lacrosse schedule here.