Game On – June 2024

    Long before the existence of America, or baseball, or perhaps even apple pie, there was lacrosse. As early as the 12th century, various indigenous tribes in North America were documented “playing” variations of the sport as a training exercise to turn young adults into 
warriors.
    Women’s lacrosse seems to have taken root first in Canada, with the history books crediting a match-up between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Ladies Club which the Scottish onlookers found “beautiful and graceful,” resulting in the game’s introduction and spread throughout the school systems.
    Fast-forward several hundred years, to our present day Diablo Athletic League Division 1, North Coast Section Division 2, California-ranked #75 girls lacrosse team at Miramonte High School, and you can see “beautiful and graceful” has decisively dovetailed with “warriors.”
    Coach Jackie Pelletier has put together a well-synchronized strike force of players, some she’s coached since they were sixth-graders. One of those players is Sydney Grey, who is currently vying for the team’s leading scorer with Sawyer Bohlig and Dylan Tawes. Each a prime example of graceful and dangerous.
    “My offensive philosophy is to have all seven players be a threat,” said Pelletier.
    She had to adjust rather quickly from last season, with the Diablo Valley League now splitting into two, putting our team in Division 1 against bigger program schools and having just lost 12 strong teammates from last year. Seniors, who needed to be replaced with brand new players.
    But both challenges soon became opportunities.
    The split gave us more chances to play top teams, not affecting our record, giving us more field-time experience. And filling the open positions helped us find some top-shelf players, with great field IQ, stick skills and that X-factor: a hunger to win.
    Every successful coach has things that work for her to inspire the team. Coach Jackie utilized her “Quote of the Day” idea before each game throughout her tenure, calling upon inspirational words from powerful athletes and historical figures to motivate.
    Before this particular matchup against Campo she chose a quote from the legendary basketball star Michael Jordan for one of her Matador players to read aloud.
    “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I’ve fallen over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
    Seems like those words carried some magic with them.
    After coming from behind several times during the game, the Matadors found success. Through great field communication, smart clock management and unmatched tenacity, the Mats beat a team that regularly leaves the field with the win more often than we do.
But not on this day.
    Final score as the visitors on Campolindo’s Bob Wilson field: 11-10.
    The blank page in the history books now filled with a big ol’ Matador green “W.”