Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team excels on both ends of the field in victory against Greenwich Country Day

By David Fierro on April 14, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich Academy senior captain Lila Volpe sprints down the field with the ball during the Gators’ Varsity A team’s 13-4 victory over visiting Greenwich Country Day School on April 11, 2025.

Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A lacrosse team captured the FAA Tournament title in 2024 after not competing in the league the previous several seasons and it’s 2025 season against FAA competition certainly began in promising fashion.

The Gators hosted neighborhood opponent Greenwich Country Day School in their home-opener on April 11 and used a tenacious, inspired effort on both ends of the field to earn an impressive double-digit victory.

With Katie Barr, Ruby Montanez and Leighton Collier sparking the offense and Lila Volpe and goalie Persia Shipman pacing the defense, Greenwich Academy recorded a 13-4 win over visiting Greenwich Country Day School in an early season FAA matchup. The win improved GA’s record to 2-1, which it improved to 3-1 with a decisive 13-3 triumph against School of the Holy Child on April 12. So, the Gators, who host Westminster School today (April 14) at 4:45 p.m., are 3-0 in FAA play.

Barr, Montanez and Volpe are Greenwich Academy’s experienced senior captains.

“We were so hyped and so into it and when we all have the energy together, we can really pull it together and it’s really fun,” Montanez said of the Gators’ victory against Greenwich Country Day.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich Academy Varsity A team captain Ruby Montanez, left, in action while being defended by Eleanor Hill of Greenwich Country Day School on April 11, 2025. GA won the game, 13-4.

The Tigers of Greenwich Country Day began its season with a tough two-goal loss to a strong Taft School team and was victorious against FAA foe School of the Holy Child – a team that’s given them problems in the past.

Beginning her first season as head coach of Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A squad is Tee Ladouceur, who is assisted by Katherine Schulze. Ladouceur arrived at GA from Dartmouth College, where she served as an
associate head coach and offensive Coordinator. Before her tenure at Dartmouth, she was an assistant coach at the University of Denver, head coach at UC Davis, and an assistant at the University of Albany. Ladouceur played lacrosse at Syracuse University. She replaces Hallie Quillinan Griggs, who was at the helm at Greenwich Academy since 2021.

“The community has been awesome, the girls have worked hard, I know Hallie left it in a good spot for me,” Ladouceur said. “Hallie is a longtime friend of mine, so I’m excited to be here.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich Country Day School captain Ella Wilner (center) gets ready to gather the ball while being pursued by Greenwich Academy’s Maddie Lane during a varsity lacrosse game at GA. The Gators’ Varsity A team won the game, 13–4.

In Greenwich Academy’s win against Greenwich Country Day, the hosts seized an early 3-0 lead, then took a four-goal advantage when Barr scored with 3:11 remaining in the first quarter. Another goal by Barr with 10:55 left in the second period put GA on top, 5-0. GA exhibited stellar passing, ball movement and patience throughout the FAA matchup.

“Before the game we talked to having more motion, not always looking for the first drive to be the goal,” said Barr, an attack, who will continue her lacrosse career at Dartmouth. “Off the first drive, we were passing, getting it through X and that worked well, along with the off the ball movement.”

Collier tallied at the 7:53 mark of the second quarter, then after Collier won the ensuing draw, Barr scored off a dodge 1:02 later, making it 7-0 in favor of the Gators. Montanez scored late in the second stanza, as the home team bolted out to a 9-0 advantage.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Leighton Collier of Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A lacrosse team in action versus visiting Greenwich Country Day School in an FAA matchup on April 11, 2025. GA was victorious, 13-4.

“Our motion offense was working really well, we were flowing with it and everyone shot,” said Montanez, who will play lacrosse at the University of California, Davis. “It was awesome.”

Greenwich Country Day’s goal in the opening half came from the stick of Caroline Cabrera. A junior, Cabrera scored off an 8-meter shot for the Tigers, who trailed 9-1 at halftime. Cabrera, senior attack Ella Wilner, senior defender Ryan Cassin and junior defender Bianca Amen each serve as captains for Greenwich Country Day’s varsity squad.

“I think we have a very strong team this season, we have players that contribute everywhere,” said Cabrera, who has committed to the College of the Holy Cross. ” Everyone cares, you can see that people want to be there. We can have people on both ends of the field who can be firing on all cylinders.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Members of the Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team react after scoring a goal in their win at home against Greenwich Country Day School.

Sophomore Delaney Enright added a second half goal for GA, which continued its strong play throughout the field in the third and fourth quarters of action. Wilner and Cabrera each had second half tallies for GCDS.

The Gators responded well from an 11-3 season-opening loss to Ridgefield, winning two straight games.

“Coming off a tough loss to Ridgefield, we came out here wanting to have fun, wanted to play hard and we wanted it more,” said Collier, a transfer from Greenwich High School, where she competed the past two seasons. “We are always rooting for each other, supporting each other and I think today, we capitalized on all that. “

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Caroline Cabrera of Greenwich Country Day School, right, on the move against Greenwich Academy in varsity lacrosse action. Cabrera is one of the Tigers’ captains.

Volpe, senior Lila Cabot, junior Quinn Reese and sophomore Niamh Cooney were among some of the defenders who helped support goalie Shipman. Following the game, Volpe discussed how grateful she was to be one of GA’s captains.

“It’s great, I’ve been on the team since freshman year, I’ve always wanted to be looking out for the girls, I’ve always wanted to be a captain,” Volpe noted. “I feel like this is a great team and I’m honored to have been elected to be a captain.”

Collier and freshman midfielder Maddie Lane took a lot of the draws for Greenwich Academy, which continues its busy schedule this week.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Lila Volpe of Greenwich Academy moves with the ball down the field vs. GCDS.

“It’s quite a busy stretch,” said Ladouceur, whose GA squad hosts Westminster today (April 14), then is home again against Greens Farms Academy tomorrow (April 15), before hosting Simsbury April 17. “They are eager to learn, they have high expectations for themselves, so it’s nice for a coach to be able to help them along, help them grow and achieve their goals.”

Greenwich Country Day visits Hopkins School today, then has home games against FAA opponents St. Luke’s School (April 15) and Hamden Hall Country Day School (April 17).

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich Academy’s Varsity A team and Greenwich Country Day School met in an FAA lacrosse game on April 11, 2025, at Greenwich Academy. The Gators were victorious, 13-4.

“We would have loved to have a better showing here, but it’s a long season, so hopefully, we’ll see them again,” GCDS coach Caitlin Copelan said. “We’re young, we only have two seniors this year. We’ve played good competition; we took Taft to a two-goal game. Then, we finally beat Holy Child in overtime – we haven’t beaten them in four years. I feel like this year especially, we are really close and the team is having a good time.”

Cabrera emphasized the significance of competing in a strong league such as the FAA.

“It’s always a real competitive league, it’s a great league,” Cabrera said. “It allows us to go out on the field every day with a purpose and it really challenges us to show who we want to be and who we are as GCDS.”

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Caitlyn Tsai (No. 25), Katie Barr (No. 9) and Cordelia Blanc (No. 2) battle for the ball for Greenwich Academy, with Bianca Amen (No. 12) and Skylar Brokaw (No. 3) of GCDS on the scene.

Barr and GA’s Varsity A team knows they have the potential to reach their high expectations once again, this spring.

“This is definitely a young team, so the chemistry is growing as the season progresses,” Barr noted. “Today, was the first glimpse of how good the chemistry and offense can be. Even though it’s separate units, defense and offense, we all work as one – on the clears and ride and we all have each other’s backs.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Delaney Enright of Greenwich Academy brings the ball down the field during a varsity lacrosse game on April 11, 2025. In pursuit is Ella Wilner of Greenwich Country Day School.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Ryan Milim of Greenwich Country Day, left, in action versus GA.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Members of the Gators’ Varsity A lacrosse team react after a goal was scored.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Leighton Collier of GA controls the ball while being defended by Ryan Milim of Greenwich Country Day in varsity lacrosse action at Greenwich Academy. The Gators won the game, 13-4.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Eleanor Hill of GCDS, left and Maddie Lane duel for the draw.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Caroline Muzzio of the GCDS Tigers looks to move the ball while being pursued by Greenwich Academy’s Cordelia Blanc, middle and Maddie Lane, right.

**Photo by David Fierro**: From left to right: Katie Barr, Lila Volpe and Ruby Montanez are senior captains of the Greenwich Academy Varsity A lacrosse team, which defeated Greenwich Country Day School on April 11, 2025.

Photos by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography: Greenwich Academy hosted Greenwich Country Day in lacrosse action.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Katie Barr of Greenwich Academy looks to control the ball in traffic.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich Academy goalie Persia Shipman attempts to make a save off a shot from Caroline Cabrera of Greenwich Country Day School during a varsity lacrosse game at Greenwich Academy.

Photos by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography: To the left, Cordelia Blanc of GA gets ready to take a shot on goal. To the right, GCDS goalie xxx gets ready to clear the ball after making a save.