Girls’ lacrosse team celebrates strong 2023 season

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — Three members of the North Reading High girls’ lacrosse team were named to the two Cape Ann League All-Star teams this season. One Hornet made the First-Team All-Stars while two others were named to the Second-Team All-Stars.

Faith Newton made the First-Team All-Stars and that is her first-ever All-Star appearance. The senior attacker led the team in goals with 48 and she was third on the team in assists with 13. The co-captain also led the team in draw controls with 83.

“She got better each year,” said Hornets head coach Matt Costello, as Newton was in her third year with team. “I think that she would have had an even better year this year is she did not have to miss her freshman year due to Covid.”

Newton will be going to Rollins College in Florida this fall were she will be playing basketball.

 

 

Brianne Slattery made the CAL Second-Team All-Stars. The senior co-captain is also a three-year player having missed her freshman year due to Covid.

The attacker- midfielder had 42 goals and 18 assists. She was second behind Newton in draw controls with 70.

“She really improved in draw controls this year,” said Costello. “Those will be big shoes for us to fill next year.”

Slattery was a CAL Second-Team All-Star as a sophomore and a First-Team All-Star as a junior.

The other Second-Team All-Star is sophomore Lindsey Rosenthal. This is her first-ever All-Star selection.

The defenseman- midfielder had six goals and one assist this spring.

She had 19 ground balls and caused 16 turnovers.

“Lindsey is a lock-down defender and she did a great job clearing the ball,” said Costello.

 

 

North Reading also earned the CAL Kinney Division Sportsmanship Award, an honor that Costello is very proud of.

Costello gave out several awards at the team’s end-of-season awards banquet.

Slattery and Newton were named the team’s co-MVP’S.

The Hard Hat Award went to two players as well. Those two are sophomores Rosenthal and Callie MacLellan.. The Unsung Heroine went to senior co-captain Riley Garrity.

Senior Shea Tully took home the Speaker Box Award while senior co-captain, Mia Pittore, received the Positive Leadership Award.

The Coaches Award was presented to senior co-captain, Jenna DiNapoli.

DiNapoli and Pittore were also recognized by USA Lacrosse as each player made it to the Academic All-American Team.

“That is a big accomplishment,” said Costello, about the All-American Award. “Only a few players across the state get that award.”

This spring, the Hornets finished 9-11 overall and they were 3-9 in the Cape Ann League to finish third in the CAL Kinney Division.

North Reading defeated Cardinal Spellman in the first round of the Division 3 state tournament then lost to the eventual Div. 3 state champions, Newburyport, in the second round.

The Hornets will lose eight seniors to graduation, DiNapoli, Pittore, Garrity, Newton, Slattery, Ali Labb (captain), Tully and Colleen Gwozdz.

“Those are going to be big shoes for us to fill,” admitted Costello, who just finished his fifth-year as head coach.  “They are a bunch of great kids and left the program in a better place. I felt bad that they had to miss their freshman year (due to Covid).”

Next season, the Hornets are slated to return 11 veterans.

“We are going to be a very young team next year,” admitted Costello. “But, I am excited about what we can do.”