The Mt. Hope girls lacrosse team crushed Toll Gate 14-7 on Wednesday and fell to North Kingstown 15-3 on Friday. The Huskies are currently 4-5 as they fight for a playoff spot in Division II. 

The win against Toll Gate marked the 100 win for Huskies head coach Kerri Giarrusso who began as an assistant coach under Lee Parker and has been the head coach for the last ten years. She was honored with a plaque by athletic director Christy Belisle before Friday’s game. 

“It's been an honor and privilege to be part of the girls' lacrosse program at Mt. Hope for the past 20 years,” said Coach Giarrusso. She also made a statement to all of her past and present players over the years, “I wanted to say thank you to all the student-athletes I've coached. It's because of you that we are celebrating 100 wins. Every spring, you came to battle and compete. I can't thank you enough for all the amazing memories we've made over the years. You are all the reason why, I coach.” 

The Huskies piled up the stats against Toll Gate on Wednesday. Junior attacker Arden Wilkes led the team with 8 goals. Reyn Ferris and Shivani Mehta each scored 2, Emma Serbst and Maria Lacey each scored 1. Ella Quesnelle dished out 3 assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Moran made 6 saves during the game. 

The goals didn’t come as easy against top seated North Kingstown. Mehta, a midfielder led the team with 2 goals in the loss. She also forced a turnover and made an interception. Quesnelle also scored and Maria Lacey tallied an assist. Moran made 4 saves against the skippers vaunted offense. 

The Huskies have four senior captains, Emma Serbst, Mehta, Ferris and Abby Razzino who is helping from the sidelines while healing from an injury suffered during basketball season. Mt. Hope is senior laden throughout the line up with Scarlett Drawbridge, Zelda Hayes, Claudia Green and Erika Tally. 

Mehta, a midfielder, likes the make up of the team this season. “I love the team. We are working more cohesively. We have a better connection. We are all friends off the field and I feel that reflects how we play on the field.”

She also feels that the team is more determined this season. 

“Effort is really big this year. We have had some overtime games and the team kept on fighting.”

Serbst, also a midfielder spoke about her teammates play starting with the defense and goalkeeper Emily Moran. 

“Emily starting playing goal last season and she has improved a bunch. She has kept us in games and saved us a lot.” 

Serbst likes the fact that the team has many senior leaders. 

“It really helps that we have a lot of senior leaders on the team and upperclassmen that are able to help lead the underclassmen,” Serbst said. “Defensively, Scarlett and Erika have taken on a leadership role and at midfield, Reyn, Shivani and myself help out there.”

At attack the Huskies sport, seniors Zelda Hayes and Claudia Green with juniors Arden Wilkes, Maria Lacey and sophomore Lola Silva. 

“We are very successful when we work together,” said Razzino, who has a different view of her teammates keeping score on the sidelines while healing from an injury. “We score a lot of goals when we play together and communicate on the attack.” 

Razzino played goalkeeper last season for the Huskies and spoke highly of the job that Moran is doing this season. 

“I think that Emily has stepped up in goal. She is playing really well.”

Ferris said that the Huskies have cut down on their mistakes and are better at their transition game. 

“Last season, we had the talent, we just didn’t work together as well as we are this season,” she said. “Our transitions down the field are really helping us. We are working much better as a team.”

“We are putting in a lot of effort,” said Mehta. “We have a good mindset. Even if we don’t come out on top, we know that we gave it our best.”

Next up: Mt. Hope travels to Chariho on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.