Published May 6, 2021
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Two years ago, the North Reading High girls’ lacrosse team went 5-13. They lost six seniors from that team to graduation. Last spring, they lost six more 12th-graders when that season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are a lot of questions heading into this season for third-year head coach Matt Costello.
Only two players who played full time in 2019 are back: Midfielder Rees Lord and defender Amelia Milano.
Two other seniors played part-time on the varsity and part-time on the Hornets’ junior varsity squad two years ago. Emma Borland is a goalie and Eviann MacInnis is a midfielder.
On Apr. 26, the team had its first practice.
“It was awesome,” said Costello, about the opening week of practice. “The energy was high and they worked hard.”
On May 4, the team had its lone scrimmage as they hosted Hamilton-Wenham. They played three quarters but did not keep score.
North Reading will play a 12-game regular-season schedule and all games will be Cape Ann League contests. The Hornets will play the CAL Kinney Division teams twice and the CAL Baker schools once.
The league is one team smaller than 2019 as Masconomet departed for the Northeastern Conference last September.
Also, for the first time since the winter season of 2019-2020, there will be a state tournament run by the MIAA.
Any team can participate no matter what their record is.
Teams must declare if they want in by June 2 as the postseason will start by mid-June and end in early July.
“We are going to participate in the states,” said Costello. “It is not the normal way to get into the postseason but we want to be in it.”
North Reading is in Division 2.
“We want to focus on what is in our control and also focus in on our culture,” said Costello, about what his goals for his team will be.
On Friday (May 7), the Hornets open the season at home as they welcome Pentucket at 4 p.m. Their next game is also at home on May 10 as they face Lynnfield. That game will also start at 4 p.m.
