GOING TO THE WELL: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Amy Hallowell heads to goal in action last spring. Senior star Hallowell will be a catalyst this spring for the Tartans as they look to improve on the 4-10 record they posted last spring. Stuart is slated to start the 2014 season by playing at Princeton Day School on April 1 and at Pennington on April 3 before hosting the George School (Pa.) on April 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team is stocked with freshmen and sophomores, Caitlin Grant is seeing an advanced skill level this spring.

“Two years ago we had a lot of beginners,” said Stuart head coach Caitlin Grant, who guided Stuart to a 4-10 record in 2013.

“We have a lot of young players but they all know the game, we have only two true beginners. I don’t have to teach the game.”

It is a senior star, Amy Hallowell, who brings the most game to the table for the Tartans.

“Amy is such a team player,” said Grant of Hallowell who is headed to Johns Hopkins where she will be playing field hockey.

“The best thing about her is that she is a really hard worker; she will go all over the field to get the ball from defense to offense and end to end. She will never give up. She never has an attitude, she is always positive.”

The trio of sophomores Julia Maser, Tori Hannah, and Sam Servis should help the Tartans all over the field.

“The sophomores do a lot of outside field hockey stuff so they are always playing together,” said Grant, noting that Maser and Hannah will be offensive midfielders while Servis will be a defensive wing.

“They are used to each other and they trust each other. They have a good sense of each other and where they are going to be on the field.”

Grant believes that sophomore Harley Guzman, junior Nneka Onukwugha, and freshman Isabelle Engel are also going to be threats.

“Harley should be a good one for us on attack,” said Grant, whose team was slated to start the 2014 season by playing at Princeton Day School on April 1 and at Pennington on April 3 before hosting the George School (Pa.) on April 5.

“Nneka has a tremendous shot; she has one of the hardest shots I have seen in high school. She can score when she gets the ball. Izzy Engel will play some midfield.”

On defense, Stuart will be depending on senior Meghan Shannon along with sophomores Rose Tetnowski and Servis to hold the fort.

“Meghan is a solid defender,” said Grant. “She will also be the voice of the defense. I will count on her to communicate and tell people where to go. Sam Servis is a great defender; she really understands the game. Rose is also on low defense.”

Sophomore goalie Harlyn Bell is being counted on to be a standout. “Harlyn has played a lot of outside lacrosse, she has really stepped up her game,” said Grant.

“She looks great in goal, I am excited to see her in games. The goalie is the one player who can see the field; I am hoping she will be loud out there.”

Grant believes the Tartans can make some noise  both this spring and beyond. “I think this group has a ton of potential,” asserted Grant.

“We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores so I think we are a team that will get better as the year goes on. I am excited about this spring and future seasons.”