Madison Girls, Boys Lacrosse Open With A Win, Look Ahead To Strong Season

James Madison High School's girls varsity lacrosse team entered this season coming off one of their most successful years yet.

Last year, they finished 16-3 before losing to Loudoun Valley High School in the first round of the VHSL state tournament.

In their first game of the season Friday night, the team continued that success, beating Langley on the Saxons' home turf 13-11.

Langley came out strong, scoring six goals before Madison answered with one of their own.  Madison clawed its way back into the game before half time and were down by just two goals. Madison took control of the offense in the second half enroute to a win.

Senior Allison Hahn led Madison with 4 goals.  Junior Megan Bisson and Sophomores Melissa Kellan and Carly Fredrick  each scored two.  Brie Hayden, Julia Kehoe, and Alex Condon each contributed one goal, with Condon leading assists with three.  Goalie Taylor Rivera-Silva had 13 saves.

Under fifth-year head coach Amanda Counts, the team is aiming for that kind of tenacity throughout the spring.

Hahn, who returns for her fourth and final year as a starter on varsity, will lead a strong group of midfielders that includes Bisson.

Hahn has committed to play at the University of Delaware next year.  She is one of only three seniors on an underclassmen-heavy team that features four sophomore and four freshmen players.

“She’s worked very hard to become one of the top players in the area,” Counts said of Hahn.  “She’s really been an example to the other girls as far as what’s expected out of the season, and she just has a really impressive work ethic.”

Counts is also impressed with the improvement sophomore Carly Frederick has shown thus far in practice and looks for her to have a solid year, too.

The Warhawks began preparing for this season not long after the last season ended. They competed in Woodson High School’s fall league, the Oakton Turkey Shootout tournament at Thanksgiving and a winter league in Baltimore featuring some of the region’s top private and club teams.  They followed that up with West Springfield High School’s Valentine’s Day tournament.

“This actually has been the most active years as far as how many of our girls did stuff together in the off season and the number of tournaments that they entered in.  I think the majority of teams in this area have stepped up as far as out of season play is concerned,” Counts said. 

Karen Kerrin contribute reporting to this story.

Boys Lacrosse

The boys lacrosse team returns just two starters from last year’s team, which finished with a tough loss in the second round of the regional tournament to Robinson High School.  But head coach Richard Hodge still sees great things ahead this season for his young team.

“A lot of people are expecting us to be in a rebuilding year, because we had so many talented players last year,” Hodge said. “I think these kids have worked really hard in the off season to compete in the Liberty this year. I can’t say enough about the kind of character and work ethic that these boys have.  There may not be a lot of you know big names in the crowd, but I really think this group is very special.”

When the Warhawks arrived for their scrimmages against Woodson and Westfield High School last week, the referee asked Hodge jokingly “Who are all these rug rats?” referring to the youth of their team.

But the Warhawks held their own in their opener against Briar Woods High School last Thursday, winning 10-9.

Senior defenseman CJ Kelliher is certainly no rug rat, returning after a great  09-010 season and as a "Division 1 caliber player," Hodge said.

“Our core strength this year is going to be our defense, with Matt Hayden returning at goalie and Kelliher and Brandon Baker anchoring us. I really think some of those guys should compete for district honors this year,” Hodge said.

Hayden and Kelliher have a tough road ahead, as  Stone Bridge returns a lot of talent, Hodge said, and Langley returns many of the players from last season’s team that defeated Madison in the Liberty District championship.

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Both boys and girls lacrosse teams face Mt. Vernon today. The girls team will play at home at 7:15 p.m. The boys team will play at the same time at Mt. Vernon.