Starting Off Strong

Rockbridge Girls Laxers Roll Over Albemarle

The Rockbridge County High School girls lacrosse team graduated several key pieces from last year’s squad, which won its third consecutive Region 4D championship and made its third straight appearance in the Class 4 state semifinals. But if the 2024 season opener is any indication, the Wildcats aren’t rebuilding – they’re merely reloading.

The ’Cats made short work of Albemarle on Thursday, jumping out to an early 7-1 lead and cruising to a 23-8 victory at Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium.

Lola Mulitalo led RC with nine points, ringing up five goals and four assists. Anna Nye scored five goals and secured 12 draw controls, while Nala Shearer tallied two goals and four assists, and Maddie Dahl recorded three goals, two assists and nine draw controls.

Kelsey Kirkeide notched four goals, two assists and six draw controls to pace the Patriots, and Riley Maynard added two goals and two assists.

Fueled by the return of several key offensive weapons and the addition of some talented newcomers, the Wildcats’ attack came out on fire, racking up 14 goals in the first half alone.

“I think we are such an unselfish team, and I love the way we’re starting this season and moving the ball,” RC head coach Susan Nye said.

The ’Cats jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage before Kirkeide got Albemarle on the board with 7:47 to play in the first quarter – part of a new timing scheme for high school girls lacrosse in 2024. Instead of two 25-minute halves, games will consist of four 12-minute periods. Women’s college lacrosse moved to 15-minute quarters in 2022.

RC stretched the margin to 7-1 early in the second period and pushed its lead to double digits (13-3) on a goal from Dahl with 4:49 to play. The Wildcats entered the break ahead 14-5 and – after Mulitalo opened the third-quarter scoring – would lead by double figures for most of the second half.

Ruby Goodhart registered a hat trick for RC. Libba Erskine finished with two goals and one assist, and Halina Homiak added a pair of freeposition scores. The Wildcats outshot the Patriots 30-17 and held a 23-10 advantage on the draw circle.

RC had multiple scrimmages canceled due to weather and other issues. While the Wildcats might have benefited from a preseason exhibition game or two, they made the most of their extra practice time.

“Would I have liked to have had a scrimmage before coming into Albemarle? Absolutely,” Coach Nye said. “We’ve actually had more time to prepare for our offense, and actually more time to work through some of our new defensive schemes.”

The additional practices might be an even bigger boon due to the breakdown of the Wildcats’ roster, which features five freshmen. Four of those ninthgraders were in the starting lineup on Thursday, with defenders Tadara Cooper and Braelyn Polly joining Goodhart and Nye in RC’s first 12.

Coach Nye praised the leadership and skill of her senior class – including returning starters Dahl, Erskine, Homiak and Shearer – for bringing the younger players along. From last year’s team, which fell to Western Albemarle 16-10 in the state semifinals, the Wildcats graduated five all-region performers, led by Region 4D player of the year McKenzie Hines, a midfielder now playing Division I lacrosse for Radford University. Also playing Division I lacrosse is McKenzie’s twin sister, Rachel, a goalie for Liberty University. Both Hines sisters were named to the all-state first team last year. Despite the losses of these players, the Wildcats believe they’re capable of another deep postseason run this spring.

“It’s been awesome,” Nye said. “Those four [seniors] have taken on a leadership role. Having that group lead those freshmen, and pulling them up to a standard that we want here, is pretty incredible.”

RC was slated to visit Western Albemarle – the team that’s beaten the ’Cats in the semifinals each of the last three seasons – last night, and the Wildcats will travel to E.C. Glass for a 6 p.m. varsity contest on Thursday.