This spring season, the Northwood Girls’ Lacrosse Team made school history when they appeared in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Women’s Lacrosse playoffs for the first time since the team was founded. After a season filled with effort, commitment and extensive planning, the team made the playoffs with an 11-3 wins-to-losses record—their final win against Chapel Hill High School securing them a position in the NCHSAA East Bracket.
Northwood played a total of two playoff games versus 3A and 4A teams. Their first was a nail-biting home game against Wilmington’s Laney High School. Northwood was behind in the first half, but they came back near the end to take the game into overtime, despite being a player down due to penalties.
“We proceeded to play one overtime… and nobody scored,” Coach Larry Fritsche said. “In the second overtime Kendall Laberge caused a key turnover with a perfect check, and then she effectively moved the ball downfield to set up our offense. Mia Collins rolled, drove and scored the game-winning goal in double overtime at home!”
For their second game, Northwood faced off against Holly Springs High School, a large school with a successful lacrosse team. Northwood put up a fight and scored ten goals on them, using the opportunity to battle such a competitive school to learn and improve their tactics on the fly. Although they ended up losing the game, they had not only made it to the playoffs, but had successfully competed against two high-level opponents.
Even after the playoffs, the team didn’t lose their momentum. At the NHS 2021-2022 Charlie Awards, the Girls’ Lacrosse team won the award for “Biggest Upset” for their match against Chapel Hill High School during the regular season, which went into overtime, before Northwood player Ryan Tinervin scored a final goal for the win.
Thanks to the commitment of Coaches Larry Fritsche, Katy Gilliam and Jess Boone, and the dedication of their players, the girls’ lacrosse team was able to accomplish more than ever before.
“We are grateful and proud of everything [the players] have sacrificed and achieved since 2019, to rise together in a 12-4 season, along with playing two rounds of the 2022 NCHSAA Women’s Lacrosse playoffs for the first time in school history,” Fritsche said.
