By Meghan Foley
Hometown Weekly Staff
Last week, Wellesley’s girls’ lacrosse finished up their regular season with a 17–4 win over the Natick Redhawks on the 19th. After a delay due to the weather, the Raiders earned two goals and held the Redhawks to none in the first quarter before jumping to a 7–1 lead at the end of the second. They ended the third quarter up 12–3, and finally took the win 17–4 after the fourth quarter. Their 17 goals were scored by Tara Battaglino with nine goals and two assists, Sienna Snyder with three goals, Emi Gander with two goals, Jessie Heller with two goals and one assist, Sadie Filoon with one goal, and Maddie Coggins with two assists.
This win topped off their record at 12–6 and they have placed 7th in D1 going into the postseason this week. Their first game will have been on Wednesday the 27th against the 26th-seeded Boston Latin School. If they win, the Raiders will face the winner of the Acton-Boxborough Regional (10th) vs. Shrewsbury (23rd) matchup at a date not yet determined at the time this article was written.
Last year, Wellesley was the 2nd seed with a 16–4 record and made it to the semifinals, where they were knocked out by 6th-seeded Westford Academy just 11–10. This year, Westford is the 4th seed with a 14–4 record and it is possible the two will meet again this year, and if they do it will be in the finals.
After the Natick win last week, Head Coach Steve Balter explained how their success this season has been earned despite a few things working against them: “We’ve had a lot of injuries, we’re a young team, we’re starting seven or eight underclassmen,” he said. “So we really have to keep it day to day and not get ahead of ourselves, … [we] have a few practices before [the Boston Latin game], and we’re super focused just on that first game, … so we’re just sticking—kind of putting our blinders on and doing that. So, not looking too far ahead. I like the way they’re playing though,” he added. “Our defense is really stepping up and the girls that are filling in for the injured kids are stepping up, so that’s great.”
Balter also spoke about the team’s seniors after their final regular season game: “We have five amazing seniors. Unfortunately, two of ‘em are hurt and aren't able to get out on the field—Alexa Heller and Abby Beggans. Tremendous players, they’re going to play at Villanova and Cornell, it would be great to have them, but, other girls, like I said, are stepping up, and then our other three seniors—Mia Prall is just a beast on defense, she’s just so tough and physical and never gives up on anything . … And then Kristina Garcia-Miller, who’s our goalie, who’s truly a brick wall, … she’s had a tremendous year, and then of course Tara [Battaglino], she’s everything. I mean, she’s three points away from tying the all-time points record, she’ll do that next game. She almost got it tonight, she had I think nine goals tonight, … she’s the greatest lacrosse player that’s ever played at this school. And just a super nice person as well.
And just today,” Balter continued, “we had three captains—Alexa [Heller], Abby [Beggans], and Tara [Battaglino]—and today before this game we named Kristina [Garcia-Miller] and Mia [Prall] captains as well for the rest of the year, and that just speaks to all of their leadership, so we have five captains now, and they’re all five of our seniors and they’re amazing. And we’re gonna miss ‘em, but, they’re not leaving yet, right?”
Raiders’ schedules can be accessed online at: arbiterlive.com and power rankings and brackets can be found at miaa.net/game-day/tournament-central.
