Lax Lowdown
Matt Jenkins
Masconomet senior captain Courtney Cliffe is keeping everything in perspective.
The fact that Cliffe has developed into one of the best girls lacrosse players in the Cape Ann League, and the fact that she also became a Division 1 collegiate prospect in the process, hasn't changed her focus one bit.
"I hope to do a lot of training this summer to get in really good shape," said Cliffe, who committed to Columbia University last spring.
"It's going to be difficult to earn a spot on the field next year, but I definitely think it's something I can do. I think I'll primarily be playing in the midfield next year and definitely using my speed, which is my best attribute, to help the team."
Cliffe earned the top recruiting spot for Columbia through hard work and determination, but achieving that goal hasn't put a dent in her work ethic. That's no surprise to Masconomet coach Bethann Swartz.
"I know she'll be successful," Swartz said. "The great thing about Courtney is that she's so tiny and people don't expect her to be a fierce competitor. She works so hard. She's one of the girls who plays wall ball every morning and works out to get stronger. Her hard work is definitely what got her here."
Cliffe followed in her brother Connor's footsteps by picking up lacrosse in the second grade. But it's not like she was dreaming about a Division 1 college opportunity since she was a young girl.
"Sophomore year it started to come into the picture and become a reality," Cliffe said. "The fact that it's reality now is kind of remarkable. I'm really excited."
Cliffe made the commitment to getting better, working hard on her own and playing for Lucas Cash and Team Revolution. "I just kind of made a decision on what I wanted to do and got serious," Cliffe said.
Cliffe, who barely stands 5-feet tall, has made sure everyone is taking her seriously.
Extremely quick with advanced stick skills, Cliffe is a nightmare to defend. Her goal-scoring and play-making ability has helped the Chieftains to a 10-7 record.
"Everyone knows her as a threat. Coaches know where she's going and what she's done, so they usually put (the best defender) on her. But she still finds a way to get open," Swartz said. "She's so fast, has a great stick and a great shot. When Courtney wants it, she gets it."
While Cliffe enjoys looking ahead to Columbia lacrosse and the challenges she faces there academically (likely as a pre-med student), the only thing she really wants to focus on now is making the Chieftains better for the stretch run.
"We just need to step it up and start working together as a team," Cliffe said. "We definitely have some star athletes and I think we need to put it all together and make a decision as to where we want to be — and where we want to take the end of our season."
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Ipswich High girls coach Greg Churchill knows that he has serious scoring punch with Kim Corkum, Sarah Millard and Mikhala Reedy, to name a few. But he also knows the Tigers' dirty-work players are equally responsible for the team's 11-1 start.
For example, you won't find a bigger Brigid O'Flynn fan than Churchill.
"Brigid is amazing. She's just one of those kids that can get in there and get the draw," Churchill said. "You put her in with five people in a scrum, she'll come out with the ball getting checked, beat up and everything else. She always wins the ground balls."
Ipswich controlled time of possession for most of the second half against Cape Ann League rival Masconomet last week, and a lot of that had to do with O'Flynn's willingness to mix it up when the ball was loose.
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The Pingree boys are truly hitting their stride now after a slow start. The Highlanders began the spring 2-6, but are playing much better recently after having won seven of their last eight to climb to 9-7.
Spoiler alert: Pingree's Colin Rossano will be breaking the program's scoring record very soon as well.
Between Rossano and Bobby Adam, the Highlanders feature two very dangerous scoring options, and the team is currently playing well on defense and in the midfield.
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A couple local girls were just named to the New England roster for the 2011 Under Armour Underclassmen Games, which will be played July 1-3 at Towson University in Baltimore, MD.
Pingree sophomore goalie Maura Grady of Marblehead was selected, as was Hadley Brooke of Hamilton, who plays attack for Middlesex School.
Nine teams — Baltimore, Long Island, Upstate New York, Midwest, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington D.C., South, and West — will join the New England team in a four-game pool play format. The top two teams from each pool will then move on to the final four.
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Heading into this week, Danvers and Beverly boys have four of the Northeastern Conference's top five scorers. Danvers' Mike Trocchi tops the list with 28 goals and 37 assists (65 points), while Beverly's Nick Pinciaro (34-30-64) and Jake Abate (48-11-59) are Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
Gloucester's Geoff Kennedy occupies the No. 4 spot with 30 goals and 25 assists (55 points), and Falcon Will Jennings is fifth with 36 goals and 13 assists (49 points).
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Lax Lowdown, a column on North Shore high school lacrosse, runs each Tuesday during the spring sports season in The Salem News. Contact staff writer Matt Jenkins at 978-338-2648 or by e-mail at mjenkins@salemnews.com.
