Fledgling Tide girls’ lacrosse team begins second year with new coach

After facing host Somerville later today, Everett returns home to host Medford Monday afternoon

By Joe McConnell

The Everett High School girls’ lacrosse team is beginning its second year under the direction of new head coach Chelsea McNiff.

“I’m excited to take over for coaches Christina Buckley and Emily Korb,” said McNiff of the two coaches who started the program last spring. “This is my first-time coaching lacrosse, and I haven’t played it since high school, where I immediately fell in love with the sport.

“It’s been great rediscovering the sport again with this team,” added McNiff. “I’d describe myself as an enthusiastic and positive coach, who leads by example.”

Andrea Kendrick, the Tide’s volleyball coach, is her assistant coach. Together, they welcomed 28 players to the first day of practice on March 18, many of whom are playing the sport for the first time.

The roster consists of eight seniors, nine juniors, 10 sophomores and one freshman, and 13 of them are returning from last year’s team.

“Many of these girls are (multi-sport) athletes, who also play volleyball or field hockey,” said McNiff. “I’m excited about the athleticism of our team, plus their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the sport. They’ve been working hard in practice in the rain, cold and wind.”

The returning seniors – Yasmin Linhares, Natalia Ruiz, Khadija Ailane, Katherine Olivares Guzman and Brigitte Reyes-Cortez – will be rotating the captains’ responsibilities, and the team’s goals this season will continue to build on the foundations of the game, while growing the players’ confidence in order to increase their competitiveness.

The Tide girls opened up the 2024 season yesterday (April 4) against Malden at home after press deadline. They will be at Somerville’s Trum Field later today (April 5) to take on the host Highlanders, starting at 4 p.m. Medford comes to 7 Acres on Monday for a 5 p.m. game, before the home team faces Revere (April 11, 4 p.m.) and non-league Lowell (April 12, 5:30 p.m.) on the road.