VERGENNES — The first-year Vergennes-Mount Abraham cooperative girls’ lacrosse team was shorthanded on Saturday, and it showed in a 16-4 setback to visiting Lamoille.
The Commodores were missing four players for a variety of reasons; they played without a substitute and with players out of position in dropping to 0-4.
Still, there were flashes of good defense, passes strung together and strong ground-ball wins, all things that the Commodores are doing better as the season moves on, according to Coach Marikate Kelley.
“We’ve just got to put it all together,” Kelley said. “We’re constantly improving.”
For example, Kelley said, the defenders — Lexi Chickanosky, Peighton Duprey and Sarah Pichlmann saw the most time in the back as she rotated players, and Pichlmann probably fared best — did many of the things she asked, but not everything.
“The defense was sliding and double-teaming, but we’re missing some of the cutters after that happens, and we got hurt on some shooting space (fouls),” Kelley said.
Better work also came at midfield, where Ashley Turner (three goals and an assist, plus nine ground balls) and Norah Deming (whose second half goal was missed by a screened official before Lancer goalie Katelyn Shaw reached back and pulled it out) played well.
“Early in the season they weren’t marking up in the midfield, and now they’re marking up sometimes, but not all the time,” Kelley said.
The attack did struggle, although Jackie Reiss had some good looks when shifted up front from defense and scored a second-half goal on a feed from Turner. Kelley liked the style they tried to play, however.
“The attack was tough today because we had a bunch of people out of position,” Kelley said, adding, “It’s nice they just don’t take it and run to goal … They’re looking off and they’re passing off. I love that.”  
   SENIOR JACKIE REISS shoots and scores during the Vergennes-Mount Abe girls’ lacrosse team’s game against Lamoille on Saturday. Reiss tipped in a feed from Ashley Turner during the Commodores’ setback. Photo by Kristine Kirkaldy
Certainly Lamoille (2-3) showed speed and skill on Saturday. Three Lancers scored four goals apiece, attacker Morgan Burnham and midfielders Olivia Shively and Kelsey Aiken. Madeline Waterman scored twice, and Aiken picked up the only Lancer assist. Shaw stopped three shots.
Meanwhile, Siobhan Eagan made eight saves, some of them gems, in her first time taking on a tough task.
“Siobhan did an awesome job,” Kelley said.
On Wednesday, visiting Stowe topped the Commodores, 12-5. Turner and Reiss scored two goals apiece, and Chloe Johnston added one. Erin Lawrence, Jalen Cook, Ally Atkins and Reiss picked up assists. Cook led with 11 ground balls, Turner scooped nine, and Deming and Johnston picked up six each. Ciara McClay made three saves in goal, and Emily Spencer made four for the Raiders.
Kelley said Saturday might have been discouraging because the Commodores were not at full strength, but she believes they will bounce back. Their attitude has been positive all spring, and she said it should be.
“I think today was the toughest because of all those kids missing. But the other games they’ve really kept their heads up,” Kelley said. “And that’s part of my job, trying to keep their heads up. Because they’re doing great. They’re getting better and they improve every game. And I try to focus on small pieces rather than what the score is.”