Source: Hometown Life

Author: Dan O'Meara

After making a run to the Division 2 state semifinals last year, coach Lindsay Hoyt and the Farmington Hills Mercy lacrosse team are hoping for more of the same.

The Marlins have the potential to get there again despite some key graduation losses.

On the other hand, they return the majority of their team, having lost only seven seniors on a 25-player roster.

Brooke Ottaway was a scoring machine throughout her varsity career, and Mercy will probably have a more balanced offense this time.

Senior center Lilly Blake is a veteran offensive player who was the second-leading scorer and a nice complement to Ottaway.

Junior attackmen Evie Drukker and Natalie Masopust are capable of taking on greater responsibility in the offense and will be expected to do so.

Hoyt looks for returning senior Chandler Pincheck, a tri-captain with Blake and senior Caitlin Somerville, to have a bigger role in the offense, too.

Junior Maria Bowen also scored a goal in the state semifinal, although her regular position is on defense.

“Brooke was the leading scorer, but we have a strong group in our offense,” Hoyt said. “I think we’re going to have a well-rounded offense, working as a team to get the points.

“Blake had quite a few goals last year. She’s coming up from the midfield. Drukker was a good player in the offense, too. Hopefully, she’ll be even more of a force this year.

“(Including Pincheck and Masopust), those are my standouts right now. We have a lot of new girls coming up with the potential to do really well this year.”

Somerville, who was a goalie on Mercy’s championship hockey team, returns at defensive mid and will anchor the midfield with junior Tori Ottinger.

A pair of sophomores with expanded roles in the midfield are Lara Zammit and Catie Coffman. Both moved up to the varsity during Mercy’s tournament run.

Sophomore Grace Canty transferred from Livonia Ladywood last summer and will help at either midfield or attack.

Bowen, seniors Mary Allor and Erin Gormley and junior Hannah Roegner, who missed most of last season with a knee injury and is healthy again, will anchor the defense.

“We have a lot of experience and talent back there,” Hoyt said. “We have some girls who are new and will be coming in and playing defense. We’ll try to move some of them to midfield.

“With experience and strong leadership skills, hopefully, we’ll have a strong defense.”

Mercy also lost its starting goalie to graduation, Sara Henning, but her backup, senior Hannah Cohen, is ready to assume the role, according to Hoyt.

“She was in the rotation,” she said of Cohen. “She was a good goalie last year and has a real positive attitude.”

The Marlins, who finished 10-6, lost to the eventual state finalist, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, in the semifinal game.

Mercy begins the new season at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Notre Dame Prep. It goes to Grosse Pointe North two days later for a 6:30 p.m. game.

“We have a good amount of experience,” Hoyt said. “We have a very talented group of younger ladies who are very motivated. Hopefully, as the season goes on, we’ll be able to compete at a high level.

“As each game comes up, that’s our focus and to improve as we get closer to the state tournament. I think we have the talent and will to (make another run).

“We’re still looking at our first game of the season, but that’s our goal to get back.”