Girls lacrosse gears up for season ahead

Girls lacrosse began in Sisters just three years ago as a middle school team, joined by a couple of high school players. For two years players have worked on basic skills, scrimmaged with local teams and this year for the first time will compete as a JV team as members of the Girls Lacrosse Association.

Michele Hammer is the girls' head coach and has been with the program since its inception. Eight girls return from last year, including six seniors: Lauren Clymens, Loryn Cummins, Hillary Johnson, Johanne Loughran, Sarah McKinney and Jenna Rheuben. Two juniors, Lauren Alexander and Kaitlynn Hendrickson, also return to the squad.

Clymens, a defender, is the strong, silent type, tasked with keeping opponents from scoring. Cummins plays attack wing and brings all the skills she has as a soccer player to the lacrosse field. Johnson is a quiet, tenacious defender who never gives up and prevents many opponents from getting off shots.

Loughran will play in the goal.

"Johanne is very strong in the goal," said Hammer. "She's able to stop incredible shots and she's learning how to read the opposition."

McKinney will play defender, and Rheuben will play defensive wing. McKinney is a very versatile player who is willing to play at any position and always gives 100 percent.

"Jenna (Rheuben) has strong defensive instincts," said Hammer. "She doesn't give up and follows a player all the way in, trying to block shots."

Also back for a second year are juniors Lauren Alexander and Kaitlynn Hendrickson, who both had previous lacrosse experience before moving to Sisters.

Alexander got her previous lacrosse experience while she attended school at Bainbridge Island. Lauren handles the ball well, shoots well and will play offense.

Hendrickson previously played lacrosse at Oregon City, one of the top powerhouse lacrosse programs in the state. Kaitlynn will play offense; she has good, crisp passes and a strong shot.

New to the team this year are seniors Mindy Marr and Erika Klyce, juniors Whitney Hansen and Claire Seibold, sophomores Amity Calvin and Jordyn Clymens and freshmen Riley Barrett and Harley Bowler.

"These new players all come from other sports and bring with them skill and ability," said Hammer. "They're very fast and they are picking up on stick skills quickly. They're really contributing to the team."

The young girls team played at the Oregon JV Jamboree in Hillsboro on March 6. Hammer told The Nugget that the whole event was a training for referees, so all the games were unofficial and no stats were taken. The Lady Outlaws won three of their four games.

Sisters beat South Salem, Three Rivers, from eastern Washington, and Cleveland, a team from the Portland area.

"It was really a nice way for our new players to be introduced to a competitive environment," Hammer said. "For the most part, we played evenly matched teams. The girls got over their fear and anxiety and settled right in and were competitive. Their effort and attitude were fantastic, and they used the referees comments to further their understanding of the game. I'm looking forward to a

fantastic season."

The Lady Outlaws' first league game will be Thursday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m., against St. Marys.