The Hampshire Regional girls lacrosse team has come a long way since head coach Grace Ahrensdorf helped start up the program in 2017.

Hampshire joined St. Mary and Westfield Tech’s cooperative program in 2018 and played a varsity schedule under the St. Mary’s name. They only had about 15 players, half of whom were new to the sport, and went 0-18. In 2019, the program secured its first win since 2015, but still finished 1-18.

After a year break due to the pandemic, the co-op grew to 28 players in 2021 and finished 6-7. It transferred back to Hampshire as its host school in 2022, and numbers skyrocketed. The Raiders added a full JV team and the varsity squad notched a winning record for the first time since the team’s revival.

This season, Hampshire’s roster sits at a booming 54 players, forcing Ahrensdorf to split JV into an A and B team.

“We’ve had a good few years,” Ahrensdorf said. “It seems like the popularity in it has continually developed, which is great.”

After years of developing players on the varsity roster, Hampshire now has the luxury of developing its younger players on JV. Ahrensdorf is starting to see more players practice in the offseason and attend clinics. And now that Hampshire’s varsity players have experience from JV, Ahrensdorf can introduce more advanced concepts and plays.

“A good number of my varsity girls have stuck with me from learning the sport on a varsity team to developing those skills on varsity each year,” Ahrensdorf said. “Now we’re pulling up girls who really got to play at the JV level.”

Senior captain Caitlin Potts joined the team when it was hosted by St. Mary’s back in her seventh grade year. Ahrensdorf quickly became comfortable throwing her in on defense as a middle-schooler, and now in her final year of high school lacrosse, she’ll lead the Raiders defense. Potts is committed to Keene State College.

“At this point,” Ahrensdorf said, “she’s that player who’s really seen the program through almost all of our stages.”

Fellow senior captain Anna Puttick had a big 2023 season and will play a major role in the draw and in the midfield, Ahrensdorf said. Junior Mary Thibault joins her in the midfield, and Ahrensdorf sees both as leaders for the Raiders offense.

Freshman midfielder/defender Rylie Simmons joined the program as a seventh grader and has been developing quickly after being pulled up to varsity as an eighth grader last season. Between the pipes, senior Abby Hennessy is in her third full year as a starter after splitting time her freshman year. She’s approaching 400 career saves.

Hampshire opened its season 0-2 with losses to Pope Francis and South Hadley. The Raiders travel to Chicopee Comp on Thursday and won’t play their home opener until April 18 against Amherst.

Hampshire (co-op with St. Mary and Westfield Tech)

Coach: Grace Ahrensdorf

League/Division: Suburban League/4

Roster: SENIORS: Anna Puttick, Caitlin Potts, Josie Taylor, Abby Hennessy, Natalie Wojcik. JUNIORS: Ryleigh Fennessy, Dana Warren, Emmie Collins, Mary Thibault, Olivia Manganelli, Maddie Hollister, Ava Gougeon. SOPHOMORES: Emily Jendrysik, Reese O’Connell, Reagan Mott, Andrea Paszko. FRESHMEN: Rylie Simmons, Leilani Baez Montanez, Lily Connor, Hailey Paszko, Holly Kowalcyzk.

South Hadley

Coach: Danielle Clark

League/Division: Valley League/4

Roster: SENIORS: Ellianna Britton, Rachel Yabra, Emily Piligian, Maddie Mendoza, Maddie McArdle, Mia Beaulieu. JUNIORS: Izzy Scott, Raquel Losty, Margaret Watkins, Ava Asselin, Caitlin Dean. SOPHOMORE: Lillianna Chandler. FRESHMEN: Amanda Stevenson, Teagan Cabanaugh, Jhayda Henry, Riley Nestor

South Hadley head coach and alum Danielle Clark returns for her second year in charge of a Tigers program coming off its first-ever Western Mass. Class B title last year. Clark’s sister, Julia Miele, serves as an assistant coach. Both played college lacrosse. The Tigers are 1-3 this year, with a win over Hampshire and losses to West Springfield, Agawam and Westfield.

The Tigers lost only one senior from last year’s team, but star midfielder Jordyn Balint transferred to Pope Francis for her junior season.

Attack Raquel Losty has a “beautiful, fiery shot” and has been building confidence with each year, Clark said. Margaret Watkins is an asset on the draw and Maddie Mendoza, a senior captain, is “everywhere,” Clark said.

Amherst

Coach: Andrew MacDougall

League/Division: Pioneer League/2

Roster: SENIORS: Cedar Conrad, Talia Sadiq, Ivorie Arguin, Francesca Sloan, Thea Binzen, Abigail Como, Jill Crosby. JUNIORS: Marianna Mendoza-Torres, Zoey Candito, Emilia Luetjen, Eva Ciccarelli. SOPHOMORES: Aliyah Kenney, Ava Carey, Tsukiko Bhowmik, Mars Leonard, Claire Kennedy. FRESHMAN: Keira Cunniffe.

MacDougall has been heavily involved in Amherst youth lacrosse for years. He still coaches the mini-mites and is in his third year as the varsity coach. Amherst finished last year at 13-5 and beat both Central and Wahconah to start 2024 with a 2-0 mark.

Talia Sadiq could reach 200 points this year and Francesca Sloan and Abigail Como are nearing 100. Como is committed to the University of New England and Sloan to West Virginia Wesleyan.

On the defensive end, Jill Crosby is Amherst’s top shutdown defender. She regularly face-guards the opponents’ best player and will “take her off the board,” MacDougall said.

Senior goalie Cedar Conrad hit 500 career saves last year and is the “offseason mom” of the team, MacDougall said. She’s started since her freshman campaign and makes scouting reports for each game. She’s playing at Springfield College next year. 

Though just a sophomore, Tsukiko “Kiko” Bhowmik is on pace to be one of the best players in program history, MacDougall said. She’s the daughter of Henry Wilson, Amherst boys assistant coach and UMass lacrosse alum. Bhowmik can play midfield and attack.

Belchertown

Coach: Jarrod Lemke

League/Division: Valley League/4

Roster: SENIORS: Madysen LePage, Paige Magner, Olivia Corbin, Jordyn Hunter, Giana Cruz, Lana Krol, Madison DaCosta. JUNIORS: Veronica Dymkowski, McKenna Cardwell. SOPHOMORES: McKenzie LePage, Emma Almeida, Izzy Haggerty. FRESHMEN: Morghan Litz, Lia Pikul, Madelyn Philpott, Lily Tellier, Aubrey McCain.

Madysen LePage, Olivia Corbin and Paige Magner serve as the Orioles’ captains. Veronica Dymkowski and LePage’s younger sister, Kenzie, played behind seniors last year but should play a much larger role this season, head coach Jarrod Lemke said.

Belchertown upset top-seed Northampton in the Western Mass. Tournament last year before falling to South Hadley in the championship game. Though Belchertown graduated three starters in attack, it returns 75% of its starting defense.

Granby

Coach: Gary O’Grady

League/Division: Pioneer League/4

Roster: SENIOR: Abigail Landry. JUNIORS: Kelly-Lynne Kennedy, Lydia Kicza, Ava Saunders. SOPHOMORES: Mylin Laliberte, Ava-Elizabeth Loughman, Faith Ramos. FRESHMEN: Brenna Moreno, Kalli White, McKenna Zumbruski. EIGHTH GRADE: Lauren Barlow, Lyla Bergeron, Lea Charest, Makayla Dennis, Emily Durham, Morgan Justin, Sophia Labonte, Kaelynn Slapski.

The Rams start two eighth graders on a young team with Abigail Landry representing their lone senior.

Last year, Granby senior Ella Laliberte was named the Daily Hampshire Gazette Player of the Year after notching 131 points during the 2023 season.

Granby will be counting on Kelly-Lynne Kennedy and Ava-Elizabeth Loughman for offensive production this year, head coach Gary O’Grady said. Kennedy could reach 100 goals by the end of the season. Ava Saunders and Lydia Kicza will lead the Rams’ defense.

Northampton

Coach: Kyla Power

League/Division: Valley League/2

Roster: SENIORS: Jordan Hutchins, Emily Lippiello, Olivia Wright. JUNIORS: Ally Busone, Talya Fishman, Teagan McDonald, Jenna Talbot. SOPHOMORES: Kaydence Braman, Ainsley Dawson, Zuki Hammarlund, Mia Jones, Avery Nakashian, Maddie Nakashian, Imanni Power-Greene, Alexa Rodrigue, Jada Ford.

Northampton returns multiple players from injury this season after a 2023 campaign where several regular starters sustained serious injuries. Imanni Power-Greene is cleared to play after an ACL injury last year. Olivia Wright, a senior captain, tore hers two years ago and is fully cleared after she was limited last season. And Jordan Hutchins, another senior captain, will be cleared early in the season.

Teagan McDonald and Ally Busone, both junior captains, will lead the defense and midfield and Kaydence Braman will be a key offensive player, head coach Kyla Power said.