The Hiram Terriers women’s lacrosse team’s revival season concluded last Saturday evening against Presidents’ Athletic Conference foe Geneva as the Golden Tornadoes pulled away late in the fourth period to prevail 12-5 at Veterans Memorial Park in Beaver Creek, PA.
“We fought hard in the first half, and it was a fairly close game,” said Coach Maddie Wilson. “We never were not in it. We battled some injuries toward the third quarter and that hurt us. This team does not give up.”
It marked the end of Hiram’s (1-13, 1-8) first women’s lacrosse season since 2020 as they ended the year on a seven-match losing streak and only recorded one conference victory.
Although the Terriers’ skid reached seven matches, Hiram ended the season on a high note with one of its most competitive matches, trailing 6-4 entering the fourth quarter in a gritty battle against their league rival.
According to the first-year coach, the match was still within reach for her squad in a game that was littered with penalties as the teams committed a record 24 penalties in the first three periods.
Wilson acknowledged that the physical nature of the match had taken a toll on the Terriers’ depth, as they were left with no substitutes in the final period. Although there were only three penalties committed in the final quarter, Geneva leaned on its depth to go on a 6-0 run, spurred by senior midfielder/defender Hannah Skwarek, as she tallied a hat trick in the fourth period, including scoring a goal on a man-up opportunity.
Six of Geneva’s 12 goals came on man-up possessions, as the Golden Tornadoes brought a physical style that Hiram had not experienced much of this season.
In addition, Wilson noted that Geneva’s defense prevented the Terriers from generating good looks at the net in the final quarter, as Hiram recorded only one shot on goal.
“We had ball movement because if we held it too long, they would come at us with high-pressure, so we moved the ball around a good amount and the opportunities just were not there,” she said.
The Terriers stayed within striking distance by converting on several man-up opportunities, as freshman midfielder Janella Steiner scored two such goals in the third period, but Wilson also noted that Hiram did came away empty-handed on several other man-up opportunities.
“I don’t know if it was the idea that it was the last game or the shock of how physical the other team was, and although we made some great connections, other times we made mistakes,” she added.
Steiner paced the Terriers by scoring three goals and collecting four ground balls, which kept Hiram in the match especially in the third period.
“Janelle steps up every game, she is an unbelievable athlete and I think she really takes advantage of every opportunity in life, and it translates to the field, and she has grown so much since she got to Hiram in the first place,” Wilson said.
She added that she thought experiencing a new style of play in the regular season finale would be a good thing for the Terriers, as it was just another key experience that they could grow from and apply to their development in a program that is still in its infancy.
Wilson said that while the Terriers’ revival season did not result in many victories, she said that her young squad gained the necessary experience, even if it came at the expense of several lopsided defeats.
By returning all but three seniors next year and including the addition of the 2030 recruiting class, Wilson said that the foundation and culture has been established for Hiram to take the necessary steps to grow into a more complete squad.
“Those are the wins that we counted this year and all of the athletes on this team are locked in and bought into that mindset that if we could get better, we are going somewhere and we do have potential but our potential this year was to learn, grow and establish the program and wait until next year,” she said.
Wilson credited the work of senior midfielder Jane Clark, senior midfielder Riley France and senior midfielder/defender Madigan Nolan for keeping their younger teammates on track during a year of growing pains.
“Our seniors were key contributors this year and they showed the underclassmen what it takes to lead a team and to love the sport and the opportunity especially since they are about to graduate,” she said.
