SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint girls lacrosse poised for another strong season with several key players returning

Last season: 6-4 record with key wins over Kamiakin (2), Mead, Richland-Hanford (2)

Head Coach: Nancy Dooley, fourth year

Assistant coaches: Bill Aitken, Kevin Davis and Dig Chrismer. 

Athletes to watch: Rowan Davis, sr.; Cassidy Aitken, sr.; Eva Sloan, sr.; Terra Bode, sr.; Cecilia Dignan, so.; Kayla Beers, sr.; Maddie Mitchell, jr.; Grace Gavin, so.

Losing key attacker Alexis Downs and defender Kennedy Phillips will be an adjustment, but Sandpoint has a handful of players willing and ready to step up and lead girls lacrosse to another winning season.

Terra Bode is the Bulldogs top returner this season. Bode was key in getting Sandpoint extra possessions last year, finishing with a team-high 32 face-off wins. If that was not impressive enough, the midfielder also added 16 caused turnovers and 10 goals to the stat sheet. Head coach Nancy Dooley said Bode is ‘killer’ at the draw position and does a little bit of everything.

“We still have a good amount of seniors this year with five on the team,” Dooley said. “Most of the upperclassmen have been playing all four years. All five of our seniors – Kayla, Cassidy, Rowan, Terra and Eva – are going to be integral in the success of our team this season. We expect great performances from all of them as well as strong leadership.”

On defense, Maddie Mitchell and Cecilia Dignan will lead the way. Dooley said the team is lucky to have these two defensive powerhouses holding down the backfield, especially after losing some key defenders to graduation.

“There are openings for several girls on the team to step into those defensive shoes and we will be rotating players until we find a good fit,” Dooley said.

Also playing key roles this year will be Rowan Davis, who is expected to be one of the Bulldogs’ top scorers (Davis scored seven goals in the season-opener against Mead last year); Grace Gavin, who is fast and aggressive, and an important part of the midfield; and Eva Sloan, who will be back in net this season for Sandpoint.

“We’re really excited about Eva this year,” Dooley said. “She has worked really hard all summer, traveling all around. She is very aggressive and a very good leader."

One newcomer to watch out for is Reina Montecchi. Montecchi is new to the team this year, but has played lacrosse before. Dooley said she is a skilled player with a lot of speed and she expects her to make an impact at midfield.

Sandpoint girls lacrosse competes in Washington state’s Eastern Division. This year’s toughest challenges will be Gonzaga Prep and the Spokane Stealth once again. Dooley said Kamiakin is also a team that has been improving over the years.

“Gonzaga Prep is our first game of the year; it’s going to be a tough first matchup for us,” Dooley said. “The competition is leveling out for sure, Kamiakin gave us a run for our money last year.”

Dooley said she is hearing from parents that their daughters are loving the program, and that is exactly what she is trying to do… provide an outlet for girls to play competitive lacrosse while still having a good time.

“I’m very excited about this season because we have so many returning players,” Dooley said. “I have noticed in our last couple weeks at practice that this team is really gelling together. They’re having a good time even though they are working really hard. This season is going to be fun.”

Sandpoint Girls Lacrosse Schedule

3/21 – @ Gonzaga Prep, 7 p.m.

3/23 – vs. Kamiakin, 11:30 a.m.

3/26 – vs. Mead, 6:30 p.m.

4/10 – vs. Spokane, 6:30 p.m.

4/13 – @ Kamiakin, 12 p.m.

4/13 – @ Richland-Hanford, 4 p.m.

4/17 – vs. Gonzaga Prep, 6:30 p.m.

4/20 – vs. Richland-Handford, 3 p.m.

4/29 – @ Spokane, 6:30 p.m.

5/1 – @ Mead, 6 p.m.

    Sandpoint's Cassidy Aitken looks to pass to a teammate in a game held at War Memorial Field last season.