Among the most hyped spring sports of the new year for North Atlanta is lacrosse. Players underwent months of offseason drills and workouts to prepare for the upcoming season and expectations have never been higher. Spanning from February to April, the boys’ team will have 16 regular season matches while the girls will have 18. As playoffs loom in the distance, NAHS lax is prepared to knock off anybody in the way of their path to glory. For the boys, the journey began on February 7th, as they faced off against rival private school Holy Innocents. Meanwhile, the girls hit the road and faced Woodstock High School on February 5th. North Atlanta looked to set the tone for the rest of the season with strong performances against the Golden Knights and the Wolverines.
After a 2023 season that featured a nine andnine9 record and a first-round playoff exit, the boy’s lacrosse team is pumped to get back on track for 2024. The team features an all-star lineup of 11 seniors, 6 juniors, and 10 talented underclassmen, all of whom have gotten familiar with each other during fall practices. The team participated in practices four days a week, consisting of weightlifting, drills, and friendly scrimmages. With a 16-game season ahead of them, the team has had plenty of time to work out the kinks that come with a new lineup. It’s safe to say that the biggest advantage North Atlanta will have over other opponents is team chemistry. “Fall practices helped to get everybody familiar with new teammates,” said junior Marlon Somersall, “I think the bonds we’ve all formed will smooth out what happens on the field.”
Girls varsity enters the season on similar terms as the boys, with a first-round playoff exit culminating the 2023 season. Unlike the boys, the team consists of almost entirely upperclassmen, meaning that experience will be a large advantage. Additionally, attacker Savannah Ivie and midfielder Anna Samuelson both earned college spots, not what an opposing team wants to see on the roster. Even with an immense amount of talent, the girls’ team can’t get too comfortable, especially with an equally talented region. The 18-game season will be the time to prove what the seniors and juniors have learned over the course of their high school careers. “We’re a competitive team, we have the talent to win against top opponents,” said defenseman and captain Carolyn Jahn, “It’s really just a matter of playing aggressively.”
2024 North Atlanta Lacrosse is hoping to have a revenge season after heartbreak in ‘23. Supercharged with new talent and experienced veterans, a playoff masterclass is absolutely in play. With the opener rapidly approaching, lax is locked in for what should be an exciting season.
