Women's lacrosse: A season to remember

BRYN ATHYN, Pa. - Coming into the 2021 spring season, there was uncertainty for the Bryn Athyn Lions women's lacrosse program. The COVID-19 pandemic cut the 2020 season short after just one game. The pandemic was still very much a part of our world. There was unknown on if the 2021 season would happen. On February 8, 2021 the Lady Lions found out there would be a season. This date started a remarkable journey for the program, and gave the Lion faithful one of the most memorable seasons. 

Director of Athletics, Dr. Suzanne Nelson, said, "I'm so proud of how these young woman represented the college. They lifted each other up and in the process lifted all of us up. No one can take way the memories of a terrific season where they played with heart and grit."

The team started with 16 players, but due to injury and other circumstances by the time the season rolled around the program had 12 healthy members to suit up. This meant for the entire season that the Lions would play with zero subs. The team: Gracelyn Bullard, Tina Tu, Chloe Levan, Tori Titano, Paulina Storck, Payton Gormley, Ashley Rivera, Jenessa Lombardi, Danielle News, Lindsay Kinsky, Raven Bozek, Nicole McCurdy, Gianna Juiliano, and Jenna Sasso would come together and put on a show for us all. Coach Denise Roessler remembered thinking about the season, "I hope everyone can make every game." What Coach Roessler and the fans would find out is that this team was tough and resilient. 

Remarkably the women went 4-1 on the season with their only loss coming to the defending Colonial States Athletic Conference Champion Notre Dame (Md). Coach Denise Roessler reflected on her favorite memory of the season, "Our first win versus Centenary, there was a moment immediately after the game where the entire team came running at the coaches on the sideline to celebrate as a team.  The emotion and joy on each of these girls faces will be a memory of mine forever.  Those moments remind me how lucky I am to be a coach." That game was the first game of the season and the Lions came out with the 16-3 victory.

Junior attack, Payton Gormley, said that game and day was her favorite memory so far as a Bryn Athyn student-athlete. She said, "Our first lacrosse game this year was special. It has been a rough year with COVID-19 and everyone showing support and us getting the win after a whole year without sports was just an amazing feeling."

This season had a unique set of challenges. Obviously the pandemic presented challenges to the coaching staff and student-athletes. It was unchartered territory for everyone. On top of the COVID-19 protocols, the team was shorthanded. One more injury could derail the season. In addition to the smaller roster size and COVID-19, the team had limited lacrosse experience. Coach Roessler on the make up of the team, "Of our 12 starters, seven had never played the game before this year.  Ten of the 12 had never played the game before they arrived at Bryn Athyn.  Preparing to compete at the NCAA level while trying to learn such a complex game offered us some definite challenges. Their success is a true testament to the character that each has inside. They are a special group." Coach Roessler continued on to talk on what her message was to the players, "We accepted each other based on what we didn't have rather than what we did.  Because of this, each player knew that they had to contribute and be accountable.  Each of these women have strong character.  Every one of them.  Extraordinary things can happen when extraordinary people come together."

Extraordinary things were accomplished by this group. The team locked up the second seed in the CSAC Playoff Championship Tournament on a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory where the Lions came from behind on the road to win. Junior captain, Paulina Storck, scored two of those goals including the game winner in overtime. Along with the team accomplishments, the Lions placed six players on the CSAC All Conference teams. Payton Gormley took home CSAC Player of the Year award and first team all conference, freshmen Nicole McCurdy and Lindsay Kinsky were also named first team all conference. Nicole McCurdy put together the best offensive season from a true freshman in the conference. Paulina Storck, Tori Titano, and Raven Bozek were named to second team all conference and Jenessa Lombardi was named to the all sportsmanship team. An amazing accomplishment to have half the team make all conference teams.

Payton Gormley matched the team with a season to remember. Gormley is the first women's lacrosse player in Bryn Athyn history to be named player of the year in the conference. Gormley was an offensive force all season tallying 32 points, 23 goals, and nine assists. The junior attack was top five in all offensive categories in the CSAC. She ranked tied for first in goals, second in goals per game, second in points, third in points per game, and fourth in assists. Gormley did this coming off of an ACL tear. Coach Roessler on Gormley, "Payton is a terrific woman and a gifted athlete.  She suffered a terrible injury last year and one never knows how the healing process will go, both mentally and physically.  The Player of the Year award shows exactly what we saw in her when the coaching staff named her Captain.  She showed tremendous leadership skills, tenacity, and her dedication to this program will now forever be memorialized.  More than anything, it is another representation of how this team came together to accomplish extraordinary results."

Gormley on being named Player of the Year,"Coming off a serious injury, this lacrosse season I felt the need to prove to everyone that it wouldn't define me. I was nervous going into the season, but the team environment quickly put my nerves to rest. This women's lacrosse team is something special and I think everyone at Bryn Athyn saw that. Getting player of the year this year means that I did all I could to help my team achieve the goals we set in the beginning. Their positivity and support is what makes this player of the year award so special to me and I thank the team and my coaches for that."

The 2021 women's lacrosse program was a team to be remembered. They were picked to finish third in the preseason poll and finished second. The team competed day in and day out despite the odds stacked against them. The team ultimately had to withdraw from postseason play due to COVID-19 protocols, and missing out on a chance to keep their historic run going. One thing was evident throughout this entire run: the group of girls played with great joy, love, and passion. Coach Roessler recognized how special this was from the girls and said, "Many, if not all, of these women sacrificed a lot to contribute to this team.  Many have two jobs, some have had some struggles outside of the classroom, and all are trying to navigate the pandemic.  This dynamic helped us all to grow together with a dynamic of acceptance.  When you believe in someone and know they need your help… powerful things can come out of that."

This powerful group loses three seniors: Gracelyn Bullard, Chloe Levan, and Tina Tu, but return the bulk of the roster including six all conference players. Coach Roessler on the prospects of next season, "Its quite obvious to me that these girls can accomplish anything they decide to do.  We all saw the very best that participation in athletic competition can offer a student athlete this year.  All any of them need to do is reflect on this year and there is no stopping any one of them."

Paulina Storck added, "This lacrosse season has been something special, something different from any sports season I've participated in. All 12 girls showed up ready to work hard and put our all into everything we did. Whether it was practice, game day, or recovery, each person showed up for one another. Being a captain isn't an easy task, but this group of girls made leading this team such a great experience. I couldn't have asked to be a part of a better team. I'm so sad that this year is over because we had such amazing chemistry, on and off the field. All we can do now is work even harder for our future goals next season."

As Dr. Seuss once said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."