Mass girls youth lacrosse players take on nation
Nov 21, 2003

Martblehead Sports Report

Four Marblehead youth lacrosse players, representing Massachusetts at the U-15 level, recently completed their last tournament with tremendous wins against very talented competition.

Molly Brauer, Caroline Lubbbock, Holly Noyes, and Heather Reiley were chosen last spring as members of the Eastern Mass Bay Team, having been selected from hundreds of players after an extensive series of tryouts.

Since May, they have practiced regularly with the 20 other players selected. They attended the US Lacrosse National Youth festival in June held in Binghamton, N.Y. The national tournament served some serious obstacles for all players when four inches of rain fell in 24 hours and fierce winds hampered play.

The Marblehead girls remained competitive against elite teams from all over the country. They have compiled wins against the state U-15 teams from Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

On Oct. 19, the four traveled to Sudbury with their fellow teammates and trounced the following top teams in the season's finale: Mass Elite, 8-4; Acton-Boxboro, 7-5; and Greenwich, Conn., 9-8.

Holly Noyes led the defense with her awesome goalie skills despite frigid temperatures and sheets of rain. As the youngest member of the team, Noyes has shown great maturity as a team player and made tremendous saves from very difficult offensive shots.

Molly Brauer provided superb transitional play between the defense and attack. She earned a total of three goals and two assists for her team. Brauer also lent strength to the defense, reducing the number of shots on goals by recovering ground balls and making interceptions.

Heather Reiley excelled in the attack position with exceptional stick work. Reiley led scoring for the entire team - one goal, two goals, and four goals in each game, respectively. Throughout the entire season, Reiley demonstrated leadership by her willingness to give her best in the many varied positions she was asked to play and play well she did.

Speed and precise passing allowed Caroline Lubbock to outmaneuver her opponents. Her controlled checks and gaining access to the ball kept Mass Bay in the dominant role during the three games. Her ability to feed the attack for shots and ultimately winning goals earned her high scorer for assists.

Lubbock had a total of six goals in the tournament. Each player has participated in the BBYL youth lacrosse program which is now starting its fourth year. Lubbock is a student at the Marblehead Charter School, Reiley is an 8th grader at the Tower school, Brauer attends the Brookwood School and is also in the 8th grade, and Lubbock is in her first year at the Groton School.