With the 2015 spring sports season in full swing, the girls’ varsity lacrosse team has been playing hard for the past month and a half, playing in two tournaments and six league games.

Of the 25 girls on the team, there are 11 freshmen, eight sophomores and six juniors. Despite the lack of seniors, under the leadership of junior co-captains Isabel Shapiro, Kate Kim and Sarah Yang, the team has grown tremendously just in the past few weeks alone.

“It’s fun,” freshman Taylor Garcia said. “I’ve been a new player in every sport I’ve played this year, but lacrosse was the easiest to transition into.”

The girls have come a long way from many of them not knowing how to play lacrosse a month ago to nearly beating Yorba Linda High School, a school three times as large as Sage, on Mar. 17.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and it’s a really supportive environment,” sophomore Marin Burns, who is brand new to the sport, said. “It’s a really great sport to play because you can pick it up relatively easily and then work on improving and honing the skills.”

With only about half of the team being returning players, this season has also been a great opportunity for those players to step up and help teach the new players.

“It’s really fun to motivate and help [the new players] succeed,” sophomore offensive player Toni Williams said.

The new players have especially worked hard this season, putting in extra effort to succeed in the sport. Freshmen Kate and Kenna Knollenberg both scored their first goals in the first game they had ever played in during the Rose Bowl Tournament on Mar. 7.

Though a pretty young team, the combination of skilled returning players and hardworking new players created a team of energetic, motivated players who are eager to learn and improve.

“I’m most proud of the team for never giving up. I understand that it can be a bit challenging but I love how everyone has stuck with it,” Shapiro said.

Because the team is so large, coach Bethany Pitassi added a few junior varsity games to give the newer players more playing time.

On Mar. 27, the JV team beat University High School 9-8 in sudden death after double overtime. Sophomore Maia Coffey scored the winning goal, but sophomores Emma Ruck, Stephanie Min and freshman Elizabeth Kline all scored their first game goals ever.

“It’s so exciting to see everyone grow as lacrosse players, and I’m excited to see our continued improvement throughout the entire season,” Shapiro said.