ALL IN: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Allison Lee heads to goal in a game last season. Senior midfielder Lee, who tallied 88 goals and 10 assists last spring, is poised for a big final campaign. Stuart opens its 2025 season by hosting WW/P-North on April 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Paige Meszaros took the helm of the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse team last spring, she worked a number of freshmen into the rotation over the course of the season.

While Stuart took its lumps early on with many of the freshmen being new to the game, the Tartans showed growth, going 3-2 in their final five games.

Heading into the 2025 season, Stuart head coach Meszaros believes that youth movement will pay dividends.

“Last year, about half of our roster was freshmen who had never played lacrosse before and they ended up being our starters,” said Meszaros, who guided the Tartans to a 6-12 record last spring. “It was really hard to have to navigate the different levels. Coming in now, we don’t have as many girls who have never played

The Tartans will be getting high level play in the midfield from prolific senior Allison Lee (88 goals and 10 assists in 2024) and her younger sister, sophomore Lauren (21 goals, 10 assists).

“I expect Allison to keep up exactly how it went last year; she is even stronger this year and has improved since last season,” said Meszaros of Lee, who has tallied 254 goals and 43 assists in her Stuart career and has committed to attend to Williams College and play for its women’s lax program. “Allison is fun to watch, her shot placement has gotten even better. She is more powerful and she puts it exactly where she wants it to go.”

It has been fun for Meszaros to see the way the Lee sisters connect in the field.

“Just watching, it looks like Lauren has gotten shiftier when she is out there, she looks quicker even than last year,” said Meszaros, whose team opens its 2025 season by hosting WW/P-North on April 2. “They work really well together. Lauren is really good with giving the team instructions and Allison is really good helping out Lauren when they are working together coming down the field.”

Junior Abby Chirik (11 goals, 3 assists) will help the Lees in the midfield.

“The three of them work really well together,” said Meszaros. “Abby is a great athlete. She has good ball sense, she knows where to be. It is good.”

On attack, senior Emily Harlan (6 goals, 13 assists) and sophomore Betsy Murphy (7 goals, 4 assists) will be leading the way.

“On attack we have Emily and Betsy,” said Meszaros.. “They are coming back, they are strong low attackers.”

Meszaros believes that defense will be a strength of the squad with the infusion of senior Annarose Bourgoin, sophomore Mayah Chennault, and the Lopez-Spencer sisters, senior Lola and freshman Aurelia along with the return of junior Najima Tahiry.

“We have got a few new players that are coming back like Annarose and Mayah, they had played basketball and they are going to be a really huge help on defense as well as Lola and Aurelia,” said Meszaros. “Najima is on defense as well. She is one of those players wherever you need her, she can fit in and be there.

That unit excelled in the team’s two preseason scrimmages.

“I would say our defense with those new girls on the field really stood out,” said Meszaros. “They have ball sense, they know where to be. We are still working on our communication. But even without the communication, they have done a good job switching when they need to on ball, off ball.”

Freshman Georgia Spirko-Noto has been doing a good job of learning the goalie position.

“Her attitude is great, if somebody scores, she is ‘I will get the next one’; she is so easy going,” said Meszaros. “She is a volleyball player, she just started lacrosse this year. She is really athletic and has good size. She has quick hands and is not afraid which is so important.”

In the view of Meszaros, there is a good vibe around the team as it looks to build on last year’s progress.

“It has been easier with all of the returners, they are just the best kids,” said Meszaros. “They have all been really helpful with some of the new girls. We have been doing well with being competitive and more intense at practice. Those new girls like Mayah, Annarose, Aurelia, and Lola bring it to practice every day, making everybody else step up and making everybody else better.”