MARBLEHEAD — There wasn’t much the Marblehead girls lacrosse team didn’t accomplish last season.
The Magicians rolled through the Northeastern Conference, finished the regular season at 16-2 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Division 2 North state tournament. Marblehead started its postseason run with a 17-5 win over No. 15 Melrose in the first round. It continued with a 9-2 victory over No.7 Swampscott in the quarterfinal. The tournament run came to an end with a 12-8 loss to No. 3 Ipswich in the semifinal.
Despite falling short in the semifinal, Marblehead coach Annie Madden believes last season was a positive step forward for the Magicians.
“I’m proud of the girls last season for the work we accomplished,” Madden said. “We reached our goals of making the state tournament and winning the NEC. We had an outstanding season. I’m really proud of all the work that went into it.”
Now the challenge for Marblehead is picking up where it left off last spring. The Magicians have 11 returning players from last season’s roster. Key returners include senior midfielder Caroline Driscoll, senior defenseman Carolyn Arthur, senior attacker Hadley Carlton, junior midfielder Grace Arthur and junior midfielder Lydia Bongiorno. In net, Magicians goalie Maeve Caldwell returns for her senior season.
All six have solidified their future plans at student athletes. Driscoll committed to play at Holy Cross, Caldwell at Denison, Carlton at Bowdoin, Grace Arthur at Boston College, Carolyn Arthur at Miami and Bongiorno at Brown.
“I feel very fortunate and very blessed to have the opportunity to work with these girls again,” Madden, entering her eighth season as head coach of the Magicians, said. “I believe our team morale has been high since the very first day of tryouts to where we are now. Our girls are working for each other. We’re looking to work toward getting back to the situation where we were last season.”
Madden feels depth will be the key strength for Marblehead this season.
“We have depth in every position and across the field,” Madden said. “Being able to use our sideline, being able to transition quickly and getting fresh legs on the field, that’ll be a key strength of ours.”
Marblehead’s off on the right foot, as the Magicians took part in a slate of scrimmages in the North Andover Play Day last Sunday and scrimmaged against Pentucket Wednesday. Thus far, the early impression of the team has been a positive one for Madden.
“Every day our girls have come out and impressed us with their dedication and motivation to improve themselves and as a team,” Madden said. “As a coach I’m really fortunate to be able to help guide them and lead them to their potential.”
The Magicians have a busy schedule out of the gate. Marblehead’s season begins Tuesday at Woburn, followed by a game Thursday at Masconomet and another Friday against Hamilton-Wenham.
“We’re taking things one game at a time,” Madden said. “It’s just one play at a time, one goal at a time and putting it all together to make one complete game.
“The girls are excited,” Madden added. “Everyday is new. We’re looking to take that excitement and turn it into something special.”
