Playing against ultra-competitive FCIAC opponents and testing their skills against formidable non-conference foes, the members of the Greenwich High School girls lacrosse team know the season will feature a wealth of challenges and it welcomes each one.

“There is a lot of opportunity in the CIAC games to work hard and contribute,” said Tara Clough, who is beginning her fifth season at the helm as the Cardinals’ varsity team’s coach. “We will strive for close competitive games every time and celebrate every success.”

The Cardinals began their 2024 season with a home game against Nyack High School from Rockland County, N.Y., on Saturday, then have another game today (Monday) at Cardinal Stadium against Bronxville (N.Y.) High School. Both opponents are among the premier teams in New York’s Section I conference and the state of N.Y.

Greenwich was defeated by Nyack, 18-6, on Saturday, but the game served as a good learning lesson for the Cardinals, whose roster includes a number of underclassmen adjusting to playing at the varsity level.

“Coming into it we didn’t know how the team was going to be since we haven’t played this team, but I think it was good for us to have the first game not being as easy,” Greenwich senior captain/midfielder Emma Abbazia said of the squad’s season-opener against Nyack. “It’s good to have a challenge that we can learn from going forward.”

Abbazia is headed to the University of Maryland, where she will further her education and lacrosse career. She has helped power the Cardinals’ offense since her freshman season on the team, leading the team in scoring.

In 2023, Abbazia earned was a USA Lacrosse All-American Connecticut selection. She earned All-America honors by registering 70 goals, 18 assists and 89 draw controls her junior season for the Cardinals. For her career, Abbazia has tallied 170 goals, 52 assists, 237 draw controls and 109 groundballs.

“It’s been a fun four years,” Abbazia said. “Obviously, with it being my last year it’s kind of sad, but I’m excited to go into my next four years and obviously thankful for what this program has given me.”
Serving as captain with Abbazia are seniors Cate Adorney, Mary Kate Frey and Grace O’Connor. Adorney is a midfielder, while Frey plays attack and O’Connor is a defender.

“I think our offense is going to be really strong, because we have a bunch of returning players,” Adorney said. “On defense, we are doing a good job for having a whole new starting line. We have some younger players, sophomores, freshmen, who are stepping up and contributing to the team.”

Frey is currently injured, but is hoping to return to action in several weeks. She should spark the attack upon her return.

“I think we have a very young team with some new skill, so we’re just working on team chemistry and working together as a team and communicating on the field,” Frey noted.

Indeed, the Cardinals’ matchup against Nyack on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium was an eye-opener for the less experienced athletes on the team.

“We’re working on our communication on the field and how we react when we go up against such a tough team like Nyack,” Frey said.

In the season-opening game versus Nyack this past Saturday, Abbazia recorded a team-best four goals, while junior attack Aubrey Roth notched two goals and two assists for the Cardinals.

Nyack jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then Abbazia scored, making it 3-1. From there, Nyack scored seven straight goals, four of which came in the first quarter, to seize a commanding 10-1 advantage.

Greenwich lost numerous players to graduation from its successful 2023 squad, especially from its defensive unit, which was highly effective one season ago. Sophia Neitzell, MK Savio, Cece Tauber and Keira Young were the captains of the Cardinals successful 2023 team. Neitzell is playing lacrosse at the United States Naval Academy, Savio is competing at Franklin & Marshall, Cece Tauber is continuing her lacrosse career at Williams College, Sophie Roth, also a 2023 graduate, is playing lacrosse at Gettysburg College and her twin sister, Kelsey is on the lacrosse team at St. Lawrence.

Last spring saw Greenwich advanced to the FCIAC Tournament semifinals and the semifinal-round of the CIAC Class L Tournament. Greenwich defeated Staples in the opening round of the Class L state tourney and topped Ridgefield in the quarterfinal-round, then lost to Class L champion Darien in the semifinals.

“The defense is new and since I’m a captain for defense, it’s fun to be a leader at that part of the field,” said O’Connor, who will be looked to for her leadership throughout the season. “It’s fun to see the defense get together and work together. It feels really great to be one of the captains. It’s really exciting, because I was injured all last year.”

Aubrey Roth, a junior, returns to the attack position, a spot she made her mark at last spring. Sophia DiPietro, a sophomore, received valuable experience at attack last season and should aid the Cards in the scoring department this spring.

Sophomore Dillon McFerran, an attack/midfielder, brings speed to the offense and when Frey returns, she’ll give the Cardinals another offensive option. Abbazia leads a group of midfielders, who should create numerous goals and scoring opportunities.

“Emma is very talented with great anticipation, determination, experience and speed,” Clough noted.

Adorney is primed for a productive season at midfield, as are sophomores Leighton Collier and Lindsay Messer. Collier made key plays during her freshman season and is always active on the field.

Despite Saturday’s loss to Nyack, Greenwich played better as the game progressed against the powerful non-conference visiting team.

“I think the positives were in the second half we were communicating more and started lifting each other up more,” Adorney said. “We also started to win more draw controls.”

“Our offense has speed and strong teamwork, while our defense is rebuilding and demonstrating their determination to jell,” Clough noted. “We graduated 10 seniors and a strong group who played for me for three years. We have a young team in terms of experience and I look forward to assisting them in maximizing their potential this season.”

O’Connor returns at defense, while junior Flynn Tauber has shifted from the attack position to defense. Junior Graycen Aslansan, junior Lexi Carino and Annabelle DeGennaro, a freshman, are also among some of the Cards’ defensive players.

Senior Kate Janis and freshman Finley DeGennaro are the goalies.

“Communication and confidence will be an ongoing theme,” Clough said. “I am looking forward to the challenge of the season to improve and perform with a great group of young players.”

After hosting Bronxville today, Greenwich will play Northwest United lacrosse on the road on Saturday, then will host Stamford on April 9 in its FCIAC-opener.

“Last year we were in the top five and I have confidence that we will be up there again,” Abbazia said. “We have a couple of sophomores who are returning and also a couple of new girls, so it’s exciting to see how they will play into the offense.”

“I think that we’re going to be up there again this year,” Adorney added. “We’re a strong team, we just have to work on our chemistry. Once we do that, we’re going to be a big competitor.”

Other homes games for GHS include Horace Greeley (April 16), New Canaan (April 18), Fairfield Ludlowe (April 23) and Darien (May 9).

“We want to show our tougher competitors that although we graduated a strong class we’re still capable and we’ll be able to be successful as a team,” Frey said.