FLEET WEEKS: Hun School girls’ lacrosse star Kate Weeks heads to goal in action last season. Hun will be depending on junior midfielder Weeks, who scored 61 goals last year, to be a top offensive weapon again this spring. The Raiders start regular season play with a game at the Blair Academy on April 4. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For Beth Loffredo, her debut season last spring as the head coach of the Hun School girls’ lacrosse team turned into a bumpy ride.

It took a while for the players to adjust to Loffredo’s approach and then, just as everybody was getting on the same page, the team was derailed by a spate of injuries as it posted a 5-9 final record.

This spring, Loffredo and her players are in synch from the start. “A lot of the girls came in with accurate expectations this year,” said Loffredo, whose team opens regular season play with a game at the Blair Academy on April 4.

“They know we are going to be working hard but that we like to have fun. We take lacrosse seriously; we are looking to build a strong program.”

The Raiders boast a serious offensive weapon in the midfield with junior Kate Weeks, who scored 61 goals last year and has already passed the 100-goal mark in her career.

“Kate’s athletic ability speaks for herself,” said Loffredo. “What people might not know because they aren’t around her everyday is her pure passion for the game and helping others get better. She is a true player and a true leader. The other players want to get better and catch her passes inside the eight.”

Hun has some other good players patrolling the midfield in sophomore Francesca Bello, junior Maddie Schade, and junior Olivia Albanese.

“Bello is another leader; she is only a sophomore but I have her calling plays,” said Loffredo.

“It is fun having her on the team. Maddie Schade is getting game-educated. She is playing club lax and when she comes to play now, she can just play. She is attack-minded and working on her body control. Albanese is such a fluid player.”

The Hun attack will feature some young talent in freshman Erica Dwyer, sophomore Brianna Barrett, and junior Tina Ruiz-Mitchell.

“They are good athletes,” added Loffredo. “I can rely on them to do the right thing on the field.”

The battle-tested pair of senior Emily Decicco and junior Lauren Apuzzi provide the right stuff along the back line.

“Emily is a really good athlete; she tries really hard,” asserted Loffredo. “She is awesome to coach. Apuzzi is another good smart defender.”

At goalie, Loffredo will be going with the tandem of senior Lucia Perasso and sophomore Alex Kane.

“Lucia and Alex are splitting time,” said Loffredo. “Perasso is really smart. She is really good in the classroom and she picks things up quickly on the field. Kane is a good athlete; she instinctively knows where she should be. I think we will be doing a rotation this season.”

Loffredo is hoping that her players picked up a lot over the school’s recent spring break as the team got to spend extra time together on and off the field.

“We stuck around for break and had 2-a-days and team dinners,” said Loffredo.

“We have had four scrimmages this year which has given us a chance to get our feet under us. I told the girls there is no pressure with the scrimmages. I am happy if you win, I am happy if you lose; I just want you to learn things.”

If the Raiders can soak up the lessons from the preseason, they should get back on the winning track.

“We are working on consistency,” said Loffredo. “We will be look wonderful and disciplined one moment and then 30 seconds later we will look disorganized. We need smart execution. As long as we stay healthy and keep disciplined, we should have a good season.”