Pictured is Lexington’s Izzy Saville
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Spring Break finds the Lexington girls’ lacrosse team enjoying an historic season.
With Wednesday’s game at Evans (Ga.) remaining, the Lady Wildcats have wrapped up their first-ever Region 4-5A District Four championship.
They clinched the title following a 16-5 win over archrival River Bluff. Following Monday’s 15-4 home win over Riverside, Lexington improved to 12-1 overall and finished a perfect 7-0 in the district
Since taking over the program, Tiffany Tortorello has led the team to double digit victories. A former three-time all-conference selection and Rookie of the Year at Columbia College in New York, she credits Lexington’s success to “building a team culture, mental toughness and grit.”
“We strive to make the total environment positive for the girls and making it a place where the girls feel truly valued and in a position to find the best versions of themselves on and off the field,” Tortorello said. “It creates an opportunity for athletic and personal growth daily and helps show the girls each day their true potential, while still having fun and building the team mindset of what it takes to be a champion.
“We push to make sure the girls know and see their growth and strengths on the field throughout the season, while also acknowledging their weaknesses and working on them to show that with hard work and dedication not just in practice, but outside of practice, who they can become and what they can achieve.”
Tortorello describes her team’s style of play as “intense,” “patient” and adaptive.
“The girls value possession of the ball during the game and do well playing as a team altogether on the field,” she said. “They are resilient and fight from the very first whistle to the last second of the game, which has helped them become successful thus far.”
The tone is set by team captains goalkeeper Emersin Clamp, senior midfielder Izzy Saville and defender Hailey Jasuta. Draw specialist/midfielder Lily Sundell is the team’s points and assist leader Lily Sundell.
Sundell has 56 goals on the season, followed by fellow two-sport athlete Saville with 47. Clamp has saved 58.3 percent of the 139 shots on goal and the Lady Wildcats have only allowed double digit goals twice this season.
It occurred in a 14-10 win March 8 over state power Bishop England and the lone loss of the season 17-9 to Oceanside Collegiate March 13.
“Each of them plays a huge role on the team in multiple ways from leadership, intensity, heart and hustle, and building the team culture,” Tortorello said. “Honestly, each girl on the team has an important individual role to make us the team we are this year.”
As the top seed in the Lower State, the Lady Wildcats will have a first-round bye when the Class 5A Division I playoffs start April 23. The Lady Wildcats will have homefield advantage through the championship match May 3 at Irmo High School.
4. In the Division 1 playoffs, this team can show what it takes to start strong, but also finish strong, as well as put Lexington girls lacrosse on the map,” Tortorello said.
(Photos by lexingtonwildcats.com)
