As the girls’ lacrosse team took the field, they shouted “clear eyes, full hearts!” in honor of the late Coach Kensinger. On April 30, the team travelled to Dallas to play Hockaday during the SPC Championship.

After Hockaday’s three point lead at the start, the Mavericks managed to tie it up by halftime. The game went back and forth between the two teams until the Mavs were up by one point with only a minute left on the clock. According to head coach Amanda Bencosme, it was the longest minute of her life, but the team held on, securing Bencosme’s first SPC title.

During the shortened 2020 season, the girls’ lacrosse team played only five games. The team considers themselves fortunate to be able to play at all this season.

“For the most part, this season felt pretty normal,” co-captain Katina Christensen said. “Especially after being so isolated due to COVID, it was really nice to play sports with friends and teammates.”

Other than wearing masks during practices and most games, Bencosme agrees that the team had a similar experience to previous years.

Bencosme joined the SJS community in 2017 as a middle school lacrosse coach. The first middle schoolers she coached are now the seniors on her varsity team. 

“They were my first group here at SJS and will always have a very special place in my heart,” Bencosme said. “They were a huge part of why I immediately fell in love with St. John’s.”

After the team’s loss to Klein in the beginning of the season, freshman Cora West enjoyed seeing the team grow together to eventually win the South Zone championship on April 22.

“I think that our loss to Klein really gave us the fire we needed to win South Zone,” West said. “It made us realize that we really wanted to do better and that we really wanted to win.”

According to West, the final SPC game was very exciting, unlike their South Zone championship game where the Mavericks won 17-5 against Episcopal. 

“Entering that championship game, we had no clue what to expect,” co-captain Caroline Pressler said. 

Pressler started this season with an ongoing hip injury. According to Bencosme, that was one of the biggest challenges the team faced, as Pressler had been their draw specialist.

Sophomore Lexie Lukens stepped in for Pressler by honing her draw skills for the SPC games. 

For West, the championship SPC game was so intense that her head became dizzy from screaming on the sidelines. The final score was 10-9. 

“We’ve become a lot better than we were at the start of the season, and that showed in our performance at SPC,” junior goalie Saviana Augustine said. “Everyone gets along so well.”

Pressler and West also say that this is the most supportive and “meshed” team they have been a part of.

“As a team of twenty-seven, we have huge sideline support,” West said. ”We’re constantly cheering each other on and lifting each other’s spirits.”

Much of the team spirit is dedicated to keeping Coach K’s memory alive. It has been two years since her death, yet the team still honors her with the words ‘Play for Coach K’ written on their jerseys. According to Augustine, Coach K’s influence is definitely still visible on the team.

“Before every game, we say ‘clear eyes, full hearts’ as an ode to Coach K and William McKone (’20),” Bencosme said. “Having the opportunity to step out on that field every day and be with one another, doing something we all love, isn’t something that everyone has the chance to do.”

Although the team will lose thirteen seniors next year, Bencosme thinks the team still has great potential to win SPC again.

“I think this season’s captains and seniors have set the bar high and I have no doubt that our returners are ready to surpass those expectations,” Bencosme said. “We have a lot of strong players and undoubtedly every returner will have a major and positive impact next year.”

According to Bencosme, the team’s success as this year’s SPC champions is a testament to all of the coaches’ hard work to have a normal season.

“Playing a full season and even hosting the State Tournament this year was something I had never expected,” Bencosme said. “I know that the team will forever remember this season.”

Additional reporting by Mia Hong.