Peddie’s varsity girls lacrosse (PGL) has been off to an amazing start this spring season, with a win-loss record of 7-4, including 2 wins and 3 losses in the MAPL bracket. This year, new history teacher Mr. Woodbury has joined the program to co-lead with head coaches Coach Vos Strache and Coach Turner to further Peddie’s sports endeavors.
Varsity sports are competitive and time-consuming, but also rewarding, building a stronger sense of community.
“My favorite part of being PGL is definitely the community,” midfielder Lexie Hoffman ’27 said. “The team, we’re all really, really close … and it just helped me create a new community for myself at school outside of my friends from class.”
Players on the varsity girls lacrosse team spend hours on the outdoor turf training and practicing shooting, stick work and plays. Additionally, in an effort to improve players’ skills and game awareness for future games, time is spent reviewing game film and conditioning in the varsity weight room.
While much focus is put on the athletic side of the sport, the team is very connected off the turf, too, participating in various activities outside of practice with the intention of strengthening bonds with each other.
Considered a highlight of the season, a team bonding trip was made on March 28 to Fernbrook Farms, team member Mikala Kuser ’27’s family-owned farm. The girls played games, became acquainted with the farm and its animals and ate dinner together.
Reflecting on the experience, midfielder Lucy Guarini ’26 said, “I really like the people and the bonds that we’ve created”.
Captains Anna Treese ’26, Natalie Muenzen ’26 and Mya Griffith ’26 lead the team, motivating each other and setting a strong example of tenacity and diligence for the underclassmen and rising juniors who will replace them next year.
According to Griffith, “the discipline it gives [her]” is her favorite part about being on PGL.
Unfortunately, Muenzen tore her ACL during PGL’s games against Blair and will not be joining the team on the field for the rest of the season. However, she has remained supportive and present throughout the season.
PGL Highlights:
Team captain Anna Treese ’26 is leading the team with an incredible 58 goals, 22 assists, 83 draw controls and 80 points.
Rising star freshman Mary Kate Giblin has accumulated a total of 26 goals, 6 assists, 25 draw controls and 32 points.
Close behind, Lexie Hoffman ’27 has scored 17 goals, 6 assists and obtained 23 points.
The team has seen 2 recruits so far — Mya Griffith ’26 and Mikala Kuser ’27 — who will be going to Manhattan University and Elon University, respectively, for lacrosse.
Though she is only a junior, Mikala Kuser ’27 has had a fantastic career so far, reaching a milestone of 400 career saves after the Blair game on April 8. In this season, Kuser has amassed 103 saves out of a total of 192 shots on goal.
While not all games are won, the girls on the Peddie girls lacrosse team continue to play hard and grow collectively as a unit.
When asked what her favorite part of coaching was, Coach Vos Strache responded, “I think it’s the energy that the girls bring every day, watching them push themselves outside their comfort zone, finding success, but also coming together as a team. It’s one of the most fun things to watch.”
The 2024-2025 team roster is as follows:
Tashi Bickford ’26
Mya Griffith ’26
Lucy Guarini ’26
Emily Huang ’26
Natalie Muenzen ’26
Aubrey Shaulis ’26
Anna Treese ’26
Katherine Baker ’27
Micaela Gomez ’27
Lexie Hoffman ’27
Fiona Maher ’27
Janelle Muenzen ’27
Ola Adamska ’28
Sarabeth Lee ’28
Caroline Nesevich ’28
Heidi Luer ’28
Samantha Wetmore ’28
Layla Alrefae ’29
Mary Kate Giblin ’29
Runyao Yuan ’29
Mikala Kuser ’27 (Goalkeeper)
Lauren Su ’29 (Goalkeeper)
