TARTAN PRIDE: Stuart Country Day School lacrosse player Catherine Martin races upfield in a game last week. Senior co-captain Martin has been sparking Stuart in the midfield. The Tartans, who dropped to 0-4 with a 14-2 loss to Princeton Day School in the first round of the state Prep B tournament last Monday, host the Hun School on April 28, play at Northern Burlington on April 30 and then host Burlington City on May 3. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As Mark Maser took the helm of the Stuart Country Day School lacrosse program last spring, he barely got to know the players.

Maser conducted two practices before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Stuart returning to the field for the 2021 campaign, Maser is relishing the chance to finally get to work with the squad.

“It has been quite fun, I think everybody is enjoying it,” said Maser.

“They are very excited to be out and just playing lacrosse. What is interesting, though, is that I don’t have freshmen any more. I have a rookie class and a veteran class. I have got 10th graders and ninth graders who are new to the game and never played. This is their first year and the 10th graders didn’t have their ninth grade season.”

Maser is excited by the response he is getting from his players. “They are very coachable, the nice thing from my perspective of doing the job is you can actually see the light bulb go off when you explain things,” said Maser, whose team opened its 2021 campaign last week and moved to 0-4 with a 14-2 loss to Princeton Day School in the first round of the state Prep B tournament last Monday.

“They like the chalk talks. We have been reviewing game film from previous years and diagramming things on a board before we go out.”

Stuart is expecting big things in the midfield from sophomore Emily Ix, who tallied both Stuart goals in the state tournament loss, and senior Catherine Martin.

“Emily as a 10th grader was elected as a captain by her teammates,” said Maser, who will also be using junior Kaitlyn Magnani in the midfield unit.

“As far as lax skills, Emily is going to be our go-to. People look to get her the ball and she likes to have it. Catherine has been looking good, she is one of our captains.”

A pair of sophomores, Lily Harlin and Madison Leggett, should bolster the attack.

“Lily has a bubbly personality that is contagious,” said Maser, noting that Harlan is also a field hockey standout.

“Madison is very, very quick and smart, she knows where to be.”

At goalie, seniors Molly Lagay and Anna Dawson, will both be seeing action.

“Molly had to step into the cage because Anna is out,” said Maser.

“Once she comes back, Anna is going to be our go-to goalkeeper. For the short term, Molly has stepped in and has done quite well. She is fearless, she directed the defense from the goal. In future games, I expect both her and Anna to be directing the defense from there and quarterbacking things.”

Senior Janiah Adams, freshman Elise Price, freshman Isabel Milley and senior Allison Tarbotton should see time on the low defense.

“I have a combination, I have Janiah and Elise,” said Maser, noting that co-captain Lagay sees action at defense when she is not in the cage.

“Isabel is a very versatile, first time player. I have her listed as attack and defense but I ran her at midfield for a couple of lines during the scrimmage and she can do that. Allison is at defense and middie, she is gritty.”

Looking ahead, Maser is focused on getting his players to improve their collective lax IQ.

“We have to understand the game and know not just my own position but each of my teammates’ positions as well,” said Maser, whose team hosts the Hun School on April 28, plays at Northern Burlington on April 30 and then hosts Burlington City on May 3.

“They are Stuart kids and they are perfectionists so it is not being afraid to make mistakes. It is make mistakes at a high rate of speed if you are going to make them and then let’s go, let’s do it. They are learning me and I am learning them.”