There were about 30 seconds left in the game and the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team was trailing Mount St. Mary Academy 18-9 last week.

Even though it was clear that the Tartans were going down to defeat, Stuart junior midfielder Julia Maser was still hustling, scooping up a ground ball, sprinting to the net and firing a shot.

While Maser’s shot missed the mark and the game ended with a final score of 18-9, her effort exemplified the team’s never-say-die mindset.

“It could be 20-1 and we would still be trying to get that last point in,” said Maser. “We always fight for the last goal, no matter how far we are down.”

In reflecting on the defeat which saw Stuart fall behind 12-4 at halftime before narrowing the gap to 14-8 with 7:53 remaining, Maser acknowledged that the team needs to get off to better starts.

“Starting the season we have kind of been a second-half team and I think we need to come out with equal intensity,” said Maser.

“Whenever we seem to get down by halftime, we always come out with fire in the second half. We need that to start the game.”

In Maser’s view, the team is starting to get on the same page as the season unfolds.

“The few of us juniors have grown up playing together so we are a pretty strong group, we try to bring that intensity to our entire team and lend that bond,” said Maser.

“We have grown and started to work together. I think it is just knowing that our teammates have our back.”

As one of the team’s more battle-tested players, Maser is speaking up more on the field this season.

“This year I would have to say I try to be more vocal and keep our team’s heads up,” said Maser.

“If we drop behind, it is not about us hanging our heads, it is about fighting back.”

The Tartans are fighting for a new leader this year as Kelsey O’Gorman has taken the helm of the program.

“That is an adjustment, it is definitely new,” added Maser, who had two goals as Stuart fell 17-7 to Princeton Day School last Thursday to move to 3-5 on the season.

“It is just like new plays, you have got to get used to our new coach’s style. She is all about us learning plays and working on consistency. We are definitely more in a routine and it is going to start looking up for us.”

With Stuart starting action in both the state Prep B tourney and Mercer County Tournament this week, Maser believes the Tartans are up for the challenge of postseason play. Stuart is seeded fourth in the Prep B competition and will host fifth-seeded Ranney School on April 29. In the MCT, the Tartans are seeded 12th and will play at No. 5 Princeton High in a first round contest.

“The focus going forward I would have to say is to have complete team unity from defense to offense,” said Maser.

“We need to work on our transition plays and once we get that down, we will be unstoppable.”