Strong senior leadership makes sure young players will bring bright future for Nashoba girls' lacrosse squad
New Nashoba Regional girls’ lacrosse coach Bina van Toom is the Wolves’ fourth coach in the past five years, but she hopes to be the one that finally makes the position stable.
With a roster heavy on sophomores and freshmen, van Toom is focused on creating a consistent lacrosse culture focused on teamwork and sportsmanship and has great senior leadership to implement that strategy in the form of captains Graham Straface (team-high 30 goals and 10 assists), Taylor Riley and Lela Boermeester.
“It’s hard to build when every year there’s a new coach, a new system, a new style, so I’m just really looking forward to be here and build on what we achieve this year and just keep growing and getting stronger,” van Toom said.
The Wolves (4-3, 3-2 Mid-Wach B) are off to a strong start, as all three losses have come in close games, including against Shrewsbury, while they split the season series with league-leading Leominster, handing the Blue Devils their only loss so far.
“The big thing we’re trying to do is focus on teamwork and to get real systems going where we’re not relying on one person, but everyone has a job at all times,” van Toom said. “We’re trying to get into a team mindset where everyone is important.”
That doesn’t work without buy-in from the team’s best players – such as the returning Telegram & Gazette All-Star Straface, who will play next year at Division 1 Quinnipiac –
but van Toom called the senior “the full package that you want in an all-star player.”
“A big thing for Graham is obviously her athleticism and her stick skills,” van Toom said. “It’s just really fun to watch her play and she always pushes herself. Even though she’s one of the strongest players and the strongest attacker, she has this real positive learning mindset where she’s always trying to push harder and refine her skills.”
Van Toom lauded her seniors’ commitment to the game, mentioning that Straface also referees, while Taylor – a defender who takes the team’s draws – also coaches youth.
“That’s something that makes you so proud as a coach to see,” van Toom said. ”It’s been really good to come in and have a set of captains that are this strong and positive and really excited about the season.”
Among the younger group, Nashoba is developing a trio of sophomore midfielders who will help the team compete this year and into the future in Kayla Flanagan, Mia Samarjian and Lauren DiTullio.
“They show just incredible hustle,” van Toom said. “They never stop going, they never complain, they just run up and down the field all game and work harder and harder. It’s great to have that midfield connection to bring the offense and the defense together.”
Nashoba is in a strong position to put together a successful season and improve on last year’s 7-8 record, but it could be just the start for suddenly stable Wolves program.
“I have a lot of hopes and very high expectations for this team and if we keep improving the way that we have been this season,” van Toom said. “I don’t think there’s much of a limit where we can go.”
Contact Carl Setterlund at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Strong senior leadership makes sure young players will bring bright future for Nashoba girls' lacrosse squad
