Published June 5, 2025
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In their first playoff game on May 30, the NRHS girls’ lacrosse team defeated Monomoy Regional, 16-7, at home in the Round of 32.
“I could not have been more proud of my team,” stated Hornets head coach Matt Costello. “We had a lot of energy on the sideline and that gave the girls a spark.”
The Hornets led this game 8-3 at the half as they outscored the Sharks, 8-4, in the second half.
“Our zone defense was giving them fits,” said Costello, as goalie Cara Ward only had to make one save.
Bella Mond played the final few minutes in net and she also had one stop.
Addie Hajj led the offense with five goals while Alaina Driscoll scored three. Eva Cannalonga had two goals and one assist while Makenzie Murphy also scored twice.
Sophia El-Sheikh and Mikaela O’Driscoll each had one goal and one assist.
Lindsey Rosenthal and Willow Reyen both found the back of the Sharks net once to round out the scoring.
With a little over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Costello put his bench in to wrap up the game.
The 17th-seeded Sharks, whose school is located in Harwich, ended the year at 12-7.
The Hornets ran into a buzz-saw on Tuesday afternoon as they fell to host Cohassett, 17-1, in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament Round of 16 game on a warm, sunny day.
“They are, by far, the best team we have played all year and, in my eight years of coaching, one of the best teams I have seen,” said Costello.
The Skippers led this game, 12-0, at the half as they showed why they are the top seed in Division 4.
“They would have to have an off-day not to win the title,” said Costello.
El-Sheikh had the lone Hornet tally that took place in the second half.
Ward made five saves.
Aine Norton led the Skippers in goals with four. Kate Greer had a team-high seven points with three goals and four assists, while Reese Hansen had a hat trick and one assist to end up with four points.
With the loss, the 16th-seeded Hornets ended the year at 11-9. The Skippers, meanwhile, improved to 19-2.