While outside it may not seem like spring is approaching, spring sports have begun their preparation for the upcoming season. For the South Bend Bears Girls Lacrosse team, that means a second year at the varsity level is almost ready to begin. The team, coached by former Penn lacrosse player, Isabella Montgomery, is eager to pick back up where they left off last year after competing at the varsity level for the first time. When asked about her feelings surrounding the upcoming season, senior attack Mia Haines said that she is “excited to play one last time with [her] friends and take advantage of every moment together.” In addition, Haines said that she is “excited to see where the season takes [them].”
While the Bears record from last year does not indicate it, the team is confident that they can be a bigger threat in their conference this year. The Bears will have important veteran strength from returners including Haines who had a strong net presence last year, scoring a team high 14 goals in her first year playing lacrosse. Along with the offensive strength, senior goalie Adele Zyniewicz will return this year after a stellar first season playing for the team. Staying on the defensive side of the ball, senior Alyssa Morris will provide leadership in front of the net. Another area of growth that the team seeks to achieve is at the draw circle. With a year of experience under their belt, the midfielders look to hone their skills in the circle, which will be a critical component to the Bears having greater success.
Looking ahead to the season, the Bears will face tough competition in their 1A Sectional Five pairings of the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association. Teams like St. Joe, Northridge and Crown Point will all prove challenges, but this year the Bears hope to also bring a greater competitive edge to games.
The Bears will begin the 2024 season with a game against Chesterton at Penn High School on Mar. 13 at 6:30 p.m. This will be an early test for the team to better understand their strengths and weaknesses outside of a practice environment. Later in the week, the Bears will travel to take on Crown Point on St. Patrick’s Day. On April 10 the Bears will play crosstown rival St. Joe for the first time at home on Tallman Beyrer Field at 7:30 p.m. and then a week later on Apr. 17 at St Joe, at 7 p.m at Leighton Stadium. To close out the regular season, the Bears will take on Munster on May 5 and Northridge JV on May 8 at home at 7:30 p.m.
With veteran athletes and newcomers to the team, the Bears are eagerly preparing for the upcoming season. Pre-season practices have already begun, and the team is always welcoming new players interested in joining the team. If interested in learning more about the team, you can visit https://www.southbendlacrosse.com/ and make sure to register before the Feb. 1 deadline.
