PITTSBORO — Move over boys, here come the girls!
Northwood High School will be fielding a girl’s lacrosse team at the varsity level for the first time ever in the 2019 spring season, joining a Chargers boy’s program that has quickly developed into one of the most competitive in the state.
The interest level was so high for the girls that a junior varsity schedule will also be played by the Lady Chargers.
Northwood Co-Athletic Director Cameron Vernon is very pleased at the implementation of the sport for the females student-athletes at the Pittsboro School.
“We are very excited to start girl’s lacrosse this season at Northwood,” said Vernon. “The last few years we have had girls expressing interest in lacrosse and currently we have around 40 girls out total to complete a jayvee and varsity team. Coach (Amanda) Huegerich has been great to work with and is working our girls hard in preparation for the upcoming season.”
The Lady Chargers will play a challenging 11-game regular season schedule featuring the likes of 4A club’s Wakefield, Heritage, Wake Forest, and Athens Drive, as well as local 3A Big Eight Conference foes Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill.
All eyes currently are focusing on March 5 and a 5 p.m. contest in Pittsboro versus Carrboro.
Huegerich has been impressed with her club thus far.
“I’m excited about this season and the team,” said Huegerich. “We have incredible grit and drive – that’s our greatest strength. These players do not give up, even when the weather has not offered the best playing conditions. We have a phenomenal goalie and some dynamos with a shot.”
Even though its a first year program, Huegerich expects her squad to be formidable, even against the much more seasoned and experienced teams on the 2019 spring schedule.
“All around our team will come to play – we will not be an easy opponent. Our conference is stacked with amazing lacrosse teams and players while many of our players are learning the basics (catch, throw, rules). That said, by the end of the season I trust our team will be a strong contender and everyone will be talking about the amazing Northwood girls’ lacrosse team.
Vernon says it took a lot of people in the community to make things happen.
“I’d like to thank the Chatham County Board of Education, Dr. Jordan and Mr. Blice for giving our student-athletes this opportunity. They fully supported our efforts to get girl’s lacrosse started at the high school level in Chatham County.”
Those efforts will come to fruition on March 5th, and the biggest winners will be the Northwood girls regardless of the outcome on the scoreboard.