EAST PROVIDENCE — The emergence of the East Providence High School girls’ lacrosse team to date in 2022 from prior also-ran to now awesome has been as impressive as it’s been quick.

A year ago in the pandemic-abbreviated Division III regular season the Townies could muster only two wins in 11 games under then first-year head coach Haley McCusker.

Three weeks into its new league campaign, however, EPHS had won the initial seven games on its schedule and had done so in mostly resounding fashion.  As of Wednesday, April 27, the Townies had outscored their opponents 83-32.

“I knew coming into this season I had a great group of girls. I was very confident and excited,” McCusker, an accomplished high school and college performer during her playing days, said of her team’s performance in the early going.

She continued, “From Day One I realized I had a team that was coachable and was ready to continue to grow on everything they learned last year.”

That commitment to excel has been evident in the results. Only one of the Townies’ seven games so far has been competitive until the final whistle, their 7-6 win against Tiverton. EPHS has won two other games by six goals, one by eight, one by 12 and another by 15.

“Their improvement is really based on them,” McCusker added. “They show up ready to work hard, grow their lacrosse IQ and give their all to one another every time they get on the field.”

The seniors on the roster include Tessa Laroche, Olivia Williams, Haley Massa and Alivia Amaral.

The juniors are Emma Nordquist, Gabrielle Phaneuf, Emmaile LeDuc, Ryleigh Grant and Makayla Rebelo.

Sophomores include Kaylee Vieira, Rylee Jackson, Kenna Wigginton, Eva Laroche and Sarah D'Agostino.

The freshmen newcomers are Katherine Almeida, Abagail Leddy, Ava Soares, Ava Williams, Dylan Flynn and Isabel Tavares.

In Tavares, the Townies apparently have a burgeoning superstar. The frosh has already scored as many as seven goals in a game and had another outing with five.

Williams, Grant, Tessa LaRoche and Massa are team captains. Jackson is the starting keeper.

“This season is off to a great start,” said McCusker, assisted once again by long-time EPHS teacher and coach Kathy Dias.

“Last year I spent a lot of time focused on the fundamentals of lacrosse,” she added. “This year I’ve really been able to build and expand the entire game. I’m very proud of the girls and how far they have come. It’s great to see them so excited to be undefeated.”