Brett Carroll
Staff Writer
The girls’ lacrosse season came to an end for Howell High School but not before the players made an impression with their coach.
“I’m as proud of them as I always am,” Howell coach Chelsea Lynch said. “I am 100 percent. They went out. They showed an effort. They fought back. Even though we didn’t come out with the W, they made adjustments during the game that proved to be really successful, and kept the game much closer than if we continued to play the same way.”
“Fast breaks off the draw,” senior center Jenna Cholowinski added. “I thought that worked really well. Definitely when we spread out more, that helped a lot. And I think that our chemistry and composure really showed in the second half.”
The Rebels finished the 2018 season when they were eliminated by Freehold Township High School, 20-11, in the Central Jersey, Group 4 state tournament’s quarterfinal round at the Marlboro Recreation Center field on May 17.
The defeat left Howell with a final record of 11-7.
The Rebels faced an 11-4 deficit at the half but they battled back before Freehold Township converted on some late goals to seal the game.
Lynch hopes to continue to work on some of the strategies and fundamentals that the team improved to prepare for the 2019 season.
“Continuing to develop shot placement,” Lynch said. “Also, working on being successful in the draw and in different situations, especially since Jenna is a senior. Continue to work our back of zone defense. We worked on it all this season, and it’s gotten much better. It’s there now. We used it today and it really worked for us. Earlier in the year when we played them, we tried it and it didn’t work at all. So, just in the course of the last two months it’s really grown and we have the athleticism and the speed and the intelligence to make it work, so we’re definitely going to try to improve it even more for next year.”
Cholowinski also praised Lynch and her staff for building a stronger squad as the season progressed.
“I think it’s our coaching staff,” Cholowinski said. “I think the game has changed tremendously. She has created such a dynamic that we all just play really well together. Even our basics and fine tuning just finally came together, and we’re a much better team for it.”
Lynch expects for Howell to develop next year.
“To continue to play really good lacrosse,” Lynch said. “To continue to develop my players in every aspect of the game. Lacrosse is such a unique sport because it’s not linear. There’s like 14 things you have to practice at once to be good at it. I don’t really like to talk about titles at all. They will come eventually, but that’s not why we’re out here. Our theme this year was ‘remember why you play.’ We just want to continue the atmosphere of comradery and playing good lacrosse.”
In order for that to happen, Lynch will turn to some juniors to become the new senior leaders.
“[Junior] Olivia Manghisi,” Lynch said. “She’s our attack and midfielder. She has phenomenal offensive and midfield presence. She almost has 200 goals as a junior, so she’ll definitely be a leader next year. And, Colleen MacWilliams, she’s our junior defender. She’s just an absolute powerhouse. She’s really phenomenal.”
