The Upper Dublin girls’ lacrosse team traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., for its spring break trip. Photos/information provided by Upper Dublin girls’ lacrosse. SOL boys/girls lacrosse is sponsored by Black Bear Lacrosse Club.
Spring break trips are commonplace in the world of high school sports. Traveling to the South to play several non-league games where the climate is much kinder makes perfect sense.
For Upper Dublin, this year’s trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., included the perfunctory games – the Cards picked up wins against a pair of teams that boasted impressive records, including a one-goal thriller over previously undefeated Chapel Hill High School, but the games and team dinners were just a small part of the five-day trip.
There was the tour of the University of North Carolina athletic facilities led by a UNC student-athlete from the Philadelphia area. The team also went to a Durham Bulls minor league baseball game.
On a free day on Thursday before returning home Friday, there was a spirited pickleball tournament and an Easter Egg hunt – UD girls’ lacrosse style with the eggs in plain sight on the 50-yard line of the field.
“They run to the 50-yard line and take one egg, and they have to run back to their stick,” coach Dee Cross explained. “It’s fun but not fun because they get running in. They can do it as many times as they want to get as much candy as they went.”
The day was capped at Duke University watching the top-ranked and undefeated UNC women’s lacrosse team defeat 10th-ranked Duke 18-6.
This year’s trip came on the heels of last year’s trip to Glenn Burnie, Md., in the suburbs or Baltimore.
“We played two games in the pouring rain, and it was so fun,” senior Abby O’Meara said. “This is definitely a trip to remember, and I think it’s my favorite of all my four years.
“I love the weather here – it’s been sunny every single day.”
This year’s trip was the third in four years for the seniors, who were part of the team that travelled to Virginia Beach freshman year.
“Our booster club does a great job with raising money,” coach Dee cross said. “Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill turned out to be great competition for us.
“I know both (UNC lacrosse coach) Jenny Levy and (Duke lacrosse coach) Kerstin Kimel, and they have been great. We had tickets to the UNC-Duke game. Knowing a couple of people in this area helped to plan it.”
Joining Cross on the trip was assistant coach Kendra Finger and athletic trainer Katie Bartosik.
“We have a charter bus that’s with us the whole week,” Cross said. “We have 34 players. It’s been a great team bonding.
“We decided who they room with, so they get to know other people – that kind of thing, and they’ve been great about it.
“Since we did the Morgan’s Message game for mental health – that was actually a player from Duke. For the girls to be able to go to Duke and see the team – it just kind of all made sense. We’re just really thankful that we were able to come. It’s obviously more fun when you win. It was just fun for them to play at night and play two good teams.”
What was the biggest benefit of the trip for your team?
Anna DiMartile: “It’s really a good change of pace for the team. We’ve been playing a long stretch of games that weren’t super competitive (UD won its four games just prior to the trip by an average of 13 goals), so coming down here to play competitive games has brought the team closer together and also being with each other every second of the week has brought us closer. You’ve gotten to know people on a more personal level, and that translates onto the field.
“We needed some competitive games going into the back end of our season. It will prepare us for the tough games like PW and Wissahickon and then deeper into the playoffs, so I think it was crucial for us.”
How significant was your team’s 11-10 win over previously undefeated Chapel Hill High School in the context of your season?
Abby O’Meara: “I think it really boosted everyone’s confidence and made everyone see what our future could hold because that win could really get us far. Everyone was really excited and happy to be with each other after that big win.
“We had a really good defense the whole entire game, so whenever we have good defense, I feel like it holds us tight. The draw was a little iffy sometimes, but we started to pick ourselves back up again, and it turned out really well. It was a really competitive and fun game.”
What was the best part of your team’s spring break trip?
Bridget DiMartile: “My favorite part of the trip was the pickleball tournament, and I will always remember our team bonding activities throughout the trip. Coach Cross and Coach (Kendra) Finger were by far the best (at pickleball), but me and Shannon Connaughton were also in the running for first place. It was so much fun.”
Shannon Connaughton: “My favorite part of the trip was touring UNC and getting to see the amazing facilities that the college has. The most memorable part for me was playing two teams who have different playing styles than we are used to and winning the close game against Chapel Hill and celebrating with the team.”
Maeve Hogan: “My favorite part of the trip was the UNC vs Duke lacrosse game we went to on Thursday. It was so cool to see a fast-paced college game in person with two super talented teams. I loved the trip this year because I got so much closer with my teammates and shared so many great moments and laughs.”
Ava Shohen: “My most memorable and favorite part of the trip had to be our tour of the UNC lacrosse facilities and the bus rides home from our wins this week. Getting to see the locker room and field at UNC was very cool, and we were fortunate enough to have a current UNC player give us a tour.
“The bus rides home from East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill High School were so fun – music was being played and our whole team was singing along, even the freshmen! This whole team made our team closer and closer together, and we all had so much fun.”
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