Returning to Reign
ADAMS TWP — As the defending WPIAL Class 2A champion, Mars’ girls lacrosse team has maintained a high level of play with new hands holding the reins.
Abby Zorrilla took over as head coach in February and has the Planets a confident bunch entering the playoffs.
“The first things I noticed about the players was that they have great energy and a great work ethic,” Zorrilla said. “Everybody on the team has a role and is valued. That’s the culture we’ve created here.”
Mars (12-3) earned the No. 2 seed and a bye into the quarterfinals. It will host the winner of Monday’s first-round clash between Quaker Valley and Franklin Regional at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Planets feature a high-scoring attack, led by Charlotte Stamper (47 goals), Mya Cote (46) and Kellen Fletcher (39).
The attack has been sparked by Zorrilla, who played high school lacrosse at Lampeter-Strasburg, near Lancaster, and in college at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.
“Her confidence, leadership and lacrosse IQ is so impressive to me,” said Fletcher, a senior who, along with Stamper, recently scored her 100th career goal at Mars. “She played in high school and in college in the East, where lacrosse is very competitive. It’s been good for us to get her perspective and knowledge of the game.”
Stamper said that Zorrilla “introduced us to more sets, more ways to set each other up. She gets us to focus more on each other’s strengths.”
Stamper and Fletcher are leaders ... and not just for their production.
“They’re both powerful on the attack, but they also understand that lacrosse is a team game,” Zorrilla said. “They know it’s important to get their teammates involved.
“Controlling the draw is so important and Lydia Toparli (team leader in assists with 22) primarily takes the draws for us. She’s a gritty player and has done well to help us get possession.”
Defensively, Zorrilla pointed out the play of seniors Mackenzie Newman and Ava Santoro, but added “It’s not just two people doing their job. Defense has to be team-oriented and the girls have been able to help each other out.”
The Planets have two capable goalies in junior Amber O'Neil and freshman Ella Roach. Both have seen time in net this season.
Only a 12-11 loss to Blackhawk in April kept the Planets from winning the Section 2 title. Mars also fell to the Cougars last year in the regular season before beating them in the WPIAL championship game.
With Blackhawk being the top seed in this year’s tournament, the Planets would certainly welcome the same sequence playing out a second time.
“Teams have played more aggressive against us this year,” said Stamper. “They want to beat the reigning champ.
“Everyone on this team is selfless and we want to win the WPIAL again so bad.”
