Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team captures FAA Tournament title with victory over School of the Holy Child

By David Fierro on May 18, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Members of the Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team gather with their coaches Julia Hamilton McGillicuddy, far left and Halley Quillinan Griggs, far right, after they won the FAA Tournament championship with a 14-5 win over School of the Holy Child at Greenwich Academy on May 16, 2024.

Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A lacrosse team ended its season in the type of style it was hoping for – championship style.

Rejoining the Fairchester Athletic Association this spring after not competing in the league the past few seasons, Greenwich Academy earned the No. 1 seed in the FAA Tournament and hosted School of the Holy Child Thursday in the title game.

Winners of the league title numerous times in previous years, top-seeded Greenwich Academy added another FAA championship trophy to its collection, claiming the FAA Lacrosse Tournament title with a decisive 12-5 victory over second-seeded Holy Child in the final.

“What better way to end the season,” GA assistant coach Julia Hamiton McGillicuddy said. “We’re really happy to end the season with a championship.”

**Photo by David Fierro**: Greenwich Academy senior captain Dylan Casazza scored her 100th point of the season in the team’s 14-5 victory over Holy Child in the title game of the FAA Lacrosse Tournament, held at GA on May 16, 2024.

Senior attack/captain Dylan Casazza recorded five goals and two assists to power the Gators’ offense. Casazza, who will play lacrosse at Princeton University next season, ended her GA lacrosse career in exciting fashion, registering the 100th point of her senior, 2024 season.

“It’s exciting, it definitely made me feel so grateful of my coaches and teammates I feel like that’s the best part of lacrosse, playing with each other,” Casazza said of reaching the 100-point plateau this season.

Katie Barr, a junior attack, scored five goals, while sophomore midfielder Chloe Cleaves and junior midfielder Ruby Montanez added one goal apiece for the Gators. Greenwich Academy held a 4-2 lead on School of the Holy Child following the first quarter and entered halftime with a 7-3 advantage.

Photo by David Fierro: Brooke Bertrand excelled in her role as a senior captain/defender for the Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team. The Gators won the FAA Tournament title by defeating School of the Holy Child, 14-5, in the final.

“The girls fought so hard,” coach Hamilton McGillicuddy said. “Holy Child came out with tons of energy and support and the girls battled the whole game. I’m really proud of our team’s play. We had great defensive stops, transitions all the way to attack, so they really worked as a unit. That’s what we were focusing on and I’m really proud.”

Sophomore Lily Lyons made several standout saves in goal for Greenwich Academy, which received a stellar defensive effort from its defenders throughout the FAA title game.

“We’ve been working on making sure we keep our momentum throughout the entire game and we really did that,” said GA senior defender/captain Brooke Bertrand, who helped anchor the squad’s defense. “I’m so proud we put in what we’ve been working on in practice.”

Cordelia Blanc of Greenwich Academy looks to move the ball during the FAA final against visiting Holy Child. GA won, 14-5.

Holy Child led 2-1 in the first quarter, then Montanez tied the score when she tallied off a low shot with 5:59 remaining in the opening quarter. Casazza gave the Gators the lead for good at 3-2, scoring from close in at the 5:07 mark of the first quarter.

Leading 4-2, GA extended its advantage on the Gryphons in the second quarter, courtesy of Casazza. Dodging defenders, she scored two straight goals to start the second period, putting the hosts ahead, 6-2.

Catching a pass from behind the net, Cleaves snapped a shot past Holy Child’s goalie, making it 7-3 with 3:13 left in the second quarter.

Greenwich Academy hosted School of the Holy Child in the championship game of the FAA Tournament and won, 14-5.

“I feel like we came out there and really wanted to defend our field, we’re so excited to be back in the FAA and put a good capstone to our season, which has had its ups and downs,” Casazza noted. “I’m so proud of everyone and I feel like we came out today and played really good GA lacrosse.”

Greenwich Academy went into the fourth quarter with a 9-3 lead, before Holy Child scored two straight goals to close to within 9-5. Casazza then converted a perimeter shot and went low with a shot and scored, marking the 100th point of the season and giving GA a comfortable 11-5 edge with 4:30 to go in the final quarter.

“That was her 100^th point this season, which is a really incredible milestone, we’re really proud what she accomplished,” coach Hamilton McGillicuddy said.

Quinn Reese of Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A lacrosse team sprints with the ball down the sideline against Holy Child.

Sophomore midfielder Ellie Watts had a team-best six draw controls for GA, which received two draw controls from Barr. For the season, Greenwich Academy finished with a perfect 8-0 record against its FAA opponents, including a 6-0 regular-season mark. Overall, GA went 12-7 this spring.

“It was awesome, we had a lot of different kinds of games, a lot of different moments as a team,” Casazza said of the season. “I feel like I haven’t been on a team this close and this tight-knit in my whole life and I’m so lucky that I have been able to play with these girls and for these coaches.”

The matchup marked the final game in a Greenwich Academy uniform for the Varsity A squad’s seniors: Bertrand, Casazza, Amelia Lewis, Molly Moore, Maya Tillman and Grace Martucci. Moore also served as one of the team’s captains.

Greenwich Varsity A lacrosse team senior captain Dylan Casazza scored more than 100 points for the season.

“They were all such huge leaders on this team, so we’re going to miss them a lot next year,” coach Hamilton McGillicuddy said of the squad’s seniors.

Indeed, the game was one to remember for GA, especially for the seniors playing for the last time with the program.

Katie Barr of GA looks to pass the ball during the FAA Tournament title game versus School of the Holy Child at GA.

“It’s pretty amazing, I’m so proud of the team, it’s especially emotional considering it’s my last season and last time playing on this field,” Bertrand said of her last lacrosse game for GA. “I’m going to really miss it, there’s no community like GA. I’m sad, but the fact that I am sad means that I’ve had such a great time here and speaks to the school and program at GA. It’s a really great way to end it, so I’m excited.”