NORTHAMPTON — The Biggs family has moved on from the Northampton girls lacrosse team.
Emily Biggs, last year’s star midfielder, moved on to play lacrosse at Smith College. Sue Biggs, her mother and 16-year coach of the Blue Devils, retired to watch her daughter’s collegiate career with the Pioneers.
But the Blue Devils return talent from last season and a new coach who is familiar with the program.
Emily Hopkins graduated from Northampton in 2008, played under coach Biggs and was an assistant for three seasons before taking the reigns for the 2016 season.
The new coach hopes to bring a fresh outlook to the Blue Devils.
“Coaching doesn’t scare me,” Hopkins said. “I have different relationships with them being closer to their age (and) I’ve been with this group for the last two years. My energy is a little different. A little more upbeat.”
The way the Blue Devils play on the field will be the same.
“I grew up playing for (Sue) Biggs,” Hopkins said. “I see a lot of what she sees on the lacrosse field.”
Returning for the Blue Devils is Megan McCarthy, an end-to-end midfielder who had 53 goals and 13 assists last season. Adjusting to a new coach has gone well for the junior.
“We have a great group of girls,” McCarthy said. “Hopkins is doing great. Everyone listens to her and respects her as a coach. We like her a lot.”
The Blue Devils lost some players on offense, but the defense returns a solid core.
“We have a lot of strong defensive players back,” McCarthy said. “We have a strong offense too.”
Sophie Melcher, a senior midfielder, returns after scoring 21 goals last year.
Anchoring the defense is Fiona D’Ambrosia, whose senior leadership will be invaluable to the back-end of Northampton’s defense.
“A lot of my players are versatile,” Hopkins said. “I don’t have a lot of set defenses and offenses. I have a lot of girls who can do both, which is awesome. Running through the midfield won’t be a problem. Same girls on offense can hustle back on defense.”
Ursa Heidinger was strong on the attack for the Blue Devils with 13 goals and 10 assists last season.
Senior Bridget Harrington is back in net.
Standing in the Blue Devils’ way are powers Longmeadow and Minnechaug. While the Blue Devils can’t match the talent of those teams, playing and competing at a high level is a priority for Northampton.
“Those teams are intimidating but we need to go into those games with confidence,” McCarthy said. “Use those games to practice what we know against girls who are really talented.”
When playing Longmeadow or Minnechaug, the Blue Devils set goals.
“I would love to say that it’s a game and anything can happen,” Hopkins said. “But they are so good that it’s an unrealistic expectation. So you set your sights on holding them to 10 goals, or getting a couple of our own. I wish we could change that but I don’t know if you can.”
The Lancers have won 13 straight Western Massachusetts titles, often holding off Minnechaug.
Amherst Regional
COACH: Kelly Ziomek, first year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-15, 1-7
LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Lost 21-15 to Agawam in 2012 WMass Division 1 quarterfinals
RETURNING STARTERS: Seniors — Meghan Sharick, M; Laney Morse, A/D; Savannah Robinson, G/A; Madison Rodriguez, D; Juniors — Gianna Catalano, M; Nina Hayes, D; Sophomores — Malia MacDonald, M; Jane O’Connell, M.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Seniors — Oressa Gray-Mullen, A; Sophomores — Elizabeth Wear, A; Annick Sheridan, D; Nicole Gerena, M.
NEWCOMERS: Sophomores — Anna Casagrande, D; Natalie Elliot, D; Taya Mathers, G/D; Freshmen — Katherine Comell, D; Rachel Kawell, M; Malina Kern, M; Rachel Magner, A/D.
OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes have eight starters back with an eye on improving. Sharick had 45 goals and 12 assists for the Hurricanes last year. She has 82 goals in her career and will be a focal point on the offense. On defense, Rodriguez and Morse provide senior leadership. Morse will also see time on attack. In net, Robinson and Mathers will see time. Sophomore Malia MacDonald had 24 goals last season.
Belchertown
COACH: Jeff Bowers, second year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 9-9, 5-3
LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Lost 15-5 to Bromfield in 2015 Central/West Division 2 quarterfinals
RETURNING STARTERS: Seniors — Nicole Beaudoin, Samantha Bodde, Kate Bowers, Emma Cyr, Audrey Duhaime, Sarah Fournier, Jacqueline Johnson, Emma Jopson, Kailey Pacheco, Abigail Robinson.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Juniors — Alanah Carattini, Katherine, Hislop, Alex Hoffman, Faith Lawless, Brooke Patterson.
NEWCOMERS: Sophomores — Tess Gadoury, Morgan Mathurin, Quinn Roche.
OUTLOOK: The Orioles have a significant return of talent from last year. Belchertown has 10 seniors returning, including nine starters. With that luxury the Orioles will look to improve and push for a league title. Jopson led the Orioles with 44 goals last season. Her chemistry with Kate Bowers (29 assists) gives the Oriole a lethal tandem on offense. One early weakness for Belchertown is a lack of experience on defense. Cyr is the only returning starter for the Orioles and will need to provide leadership to the young defenders. At midfield, Robinson will play an end-to-end role for Belchertown.
Granby
COACH: Mackenzie Paolini, third year
LEAGUE: Pioneer
LAST YEAR’S RECORD:10-5-1, 7-2-1.
LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Lost 22-10 to Bromfield in 2015 Central/West Division 2 quarterfinals
RETURNING STARTERS: Seniors — Emily Whitacre, A; Hailey O’Connor, A; Junior — Kate Sarnacki, M.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Sophomores — Rachel Netta, D; Isabelle Shepard, D/G; Samantha O’Grady, A.
NEWCOMERS: Freshmen — Jess Chapdlaine, D; Madison Sexton, M; Nora Bernashe, A; Jasmine Jones, A; Lilli Dimitropolis, D; Mya Fillion, A; Eighth Grade — Kaeleigh Croteau, M; Kailyn Croteau, A; Hannah Sudsbury, M; Isabel Bullock, D; Jordyn Shepard, D; Julia Frappier, M; Seventh Grade — Allie Bessette, D; Kyla Grenier, A; Rosalynne Villbrecht, D; Justice Delaney, D.
OUTLOOK: Sarnacki returns after scoring 93 goals with 28 assists last season. The Rams roster is extremely young, with only three upperclassmen. Whitacre and O’Connor round out the attack. The defense consists of Netta, Shepard and O’Grady. O’Grady will also see time in net. Granby got its first playoff win last year and will look to build on this season even with a young roster. Shepard will see time in net.
Northampton
COACH: Emily Hopkins, first year
LEAGUE: Valley Wheel
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 15-5, 4-4
LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Lost 13-9 to Westborough in 2015 Central/West quarterfinals
RETURNING STARTERS: Seniors — Fiona D’Ambrosia, D; Grace Goodwin-Boyd, M; Ursa Heidinger, A; Sophie Melcher, A; Bridget Harrington, G; Morgan Moffett, M; Megan McCarthy, M; Juniors — Tieyin Doherty-Weinraub, D; Sophomores — Abby Baldwin, A.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Seniors — Victoria Miller, D; Hannah Sledzieski, A; Summer Zackaricz, D; Allie Zadworny, A.
NEWCOMERS: Seniors — Kaitlyn Thibault, D; Juniors — Matti Tacy, A; Ruth Doherty, A; Lauren Parks, D; Sophomores — Hazel Either, M; Ally McGrath, M; Sky Andrews , M.
OUTLOOK: The Blue Devils lost 21 goals and 13 assists with the graduation of Emily Biggs, who also solidified a strong defense from the midfield position. McCarthy scored 53 goals last season and is a talented and athletic end-to-end player. Melcher and Goodwin-Boyd will help in the midfield. D’Ambrosio will lead the defense with help from Miller. Harrington returns for a third year in goal. She brings a lot of experience in net for Northampton.
South Hadley
COACH: Bryan Couture, first year
LEAGUE: Valley Wheel
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-12, 0-8.
LAST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE: Lost 18-4 to Longmeadow in 2013 WMass Division 1 semifinals
RETURNING STARTERS: Juniors — Morgan Harrington, M; Emma Slysz, M; Sarah Lacey, A; Taylor Roy, A; Briana Couture M; Marley Medina, M; Kami Sierra, D; Sophomores — Natalie Patruno, A; Julie Miele, M; Jillian Whalen, D; Hanna Kopec, G.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Juniors — Mari Powers, A; Sophomores — Kera Murphy, M; Paiton Luis, D; Nessa Ansaldi, D; Olivia Cyr, D.
NEWCOMERS: Sophomores — Maddie Gaston, M; Maeve Fitzgerald, M; Freshmen — Carla Jarrett, D; Laney Klezczynski, D; Kelly Clare, A; Maddie Mathers, A; Brooke Blaire, G; Hayley O’Brien, D.
OUTLOOK: The Tigers have a strong group of juniors who have another year of experience. South Hadley will look to the junior class for leadership and on-field production. The scoring will come from Slysz, who had 27 goals and 10 assists last season. On attack, Lacey and Roy had five goals each last year and will look to contribute more for the Tigers. Sierra and Whalen shore up the defense while Kopec will be in net.
