A winning week for Greenwich Country Day School’s varsity girls lacrosse team began when it celebrated Senior Day with a sensational performance against Canterbury School at Offit Field on May 4th.

The Tigers celebrated Senior Day in style, registering seven goals in each half on their way to coasting to a 14-4 victory over visiting Canterbury School. After defeating Canterbury, GCDS edged FAA rival Rye Country Day School, 10-9, earning perhaps its most significant win of the season.

With the win, Greenwich Country Day moved into a three-way first place tie in the FAA Lacrosse standings. Greenwich Country Day has a record of 6-1 in the FAA, identical to Greenwich Academy and Rye Country Day. The FAA Lacrosse Tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday (May 14) and it looks as though GCDS will be seeded second behind Greenwich Academy, while RCDS will get the No. 3 seed in the league tournament. As for the start of their successful week versus Canterbury, the Tigers received a balanced scoring effort, paced by three goals and two assists from sophomore Sadie Manger and a four-goal, one assist effort by sophomore Ryan Milim. Senior Ella Michaelis tallied twice, while Katherine Chandra, also a senior, recorded two goals and two assists for GCDS, which has a record of 12-4 overall.

“We all worked together really well at getting the ball around, that’s the biggest thing,” said Chandra, one of the Tigers’ senior captains. When we were a man-up, we were getting the ball around.”

“We had some many assisted goals, which is awesome,” Chandra added.

Jaden Sutter, a freshman, had one goal and one assist, while senior captain Caroline Cabrera and senior Lara Young posted one goal apiece in the winning effort.

Cabrera reflected on the Tigers’ successful season, which they hope continues in the upcoming FAA Tournament.

“I’d say it’s amazing,” Cabrera said. “I think that this is the best season that we’ve had. We’ve had some many contributors, so many amazing people.”

In the Senior Day victory versus Canterbury School, the Tigers led 3-0 after the first quarter and brought a 7-2 advantage into the second quarter. Manger opened the scoring for GCDS, tallying with 8:49 left in the first quarter.

Milim scored after making a strong move to the goal, making it 2-0 in favor of GCDS with 52.2 seconds to go in the first quarter. After winning the ensuing draw, the home team tallied again for a 3-0 lead going into the second quarter. The Tigers exhibited stellar passing on offense and lock-down defensive play throughout their Senior Day win.

“We played really well, we played like a team and I think we all did a good job collectively of thinking of something other than ourselves,” said Michaelis, also a senior captain.

Milim gave GCDS a 4-0 lead with a goal 1:18 into the second quarter, then scored from inside, putting the hosts on top, 5-0, at the quarter’s 10:16 mark.

Canterbury’s first goal came with 8:45 remaining in the second quarter, then Milim converted a free position shot, extending Greenwich Country Day’s advantage to 6-1.

Michaelis starting Greenwich Country Day’s scoring in the third quarter, making the score 8-3 with 10:19 left. In the fourth quarter, Manger and Young were among some of the Tigers’ goal scorers.

“We came out here with really high energy and that’s what pushed us to the end,” said Young, who also played on Greenwich Country Day’s varsity volleyball and basketball teams. “Our team is so close. We came out  with high energy and kept it.”

Indeed, Greenwich Country Day is entering the FAA Tournament on a high note. Since losing to Greenwich Academy, 11-8, on April 11th, they have won seven straight games.

“The goal is to make it to the FAA finals and hopefully, win them,” Michaelis said. “We’ve never made it to the finals and it would be a huge accomplishment for our team.”

Said GCDS senior Caroline Muzzeo: “I thought everyone came together to really play as a team today and celebrate a special day for 11 seniors that we have. This year, we’re really pushing to make it farther than we had before. We have a special group this year and hope to be able to do it.”

Senior captain Bianca Amen was there to give moral support to the Tigers during their win over Canterbury. Amen, a key contributor to the program’s success for several seasons, was having another impressive season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the squad’s 9-7 road win over Millbrook School on April 27.

“I’m really proud of them, they executed really well on the field today,” Amen said. “Obviously, I wanted to help and be on the field with them. But I’m so proud to be on the sideline and seeing our team come together.”

As has been the case throughout the season, GCDS used a strong start to set the tone of their matchup versus Canterbury.

“We came out here with really high energy and that’s what pushed us to the end,” Young noted.

“The team has had such a high energy the entire season and it’s made everything so much more fun,” Cabrera said. “It’s great to be a part of. I’m happy for how it’s going so far.”

Amen, Katherine Benincasa, Lila Braddock, Cabrera, Chandra, Catherine Cutting, Morgan Ertel, Teresa Filicetti, Michaelis, Caroline Muzzio and Young are Greenwich Country Day’s 11 seniors.

“This class is the biggest since we started our program,” GCDS coach Caitlin Copelan said. “They’re impactful, there’s a lot of contributors on the field, obviously great kids off the field.”

“Some of them have been on the team since eighth grade,” Copelan continued regarding her seniors. “They’re a fun group and we’re just happy to honor them in a fun way.  It’s been a great group, I’m really proud of them. It’s going to be a tough class to replace.”

So, with a successful regular season to their ledger, the Tigers now turn their attention and focus to the FAA Lacrosse Tournament.

“I’m really excited for the team,” Chandra noted. “We have all the qualities we need to succeed and go really far in the playoffs and we’re ready for it.”

Young looked back on her lacrosse days at GCDS.

“It was so much fun especially since the team is so loving, we’re all family here and I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else.”

Here’s some more pictures from Greenwich Country Day’s win over Canterbury.