PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Lacrosse is still a new sport in Florida, but the girls on the Cypress Creek lacrosse team have come a long way since its inception five years ago.
What You Need To Know
- Cypress Creek girls lacrosse had a record year
- They became first team in program history to reach the regional quarterfinals
- Junior Ashlynn Hutner and seniors Alyssa Russo and Avery Smith reflect back on this past season
The season may be over for the Coyotes, but it’s back on the practice field for Ashlynn Hutner and the Cypress Creek girls lacrosse team on another hot Florida day.
“It’s pretty fun, I’ll say that,” Hutner said.
The Coyotes have had a spectacular season this year.
Senior defender Alyssa Russo said she’s closing out her lacrosse career on a very high note.
“It’s only my third year playing, but this year I just wanted to give it my all,” Russo.
The season has been a series of milestones for the girls.
The first is that most of them had never picked up a lacrosse stick until they got to high school, but their athletic background has helped them excel.
Russo added, “For me, like, cause I started out so new my sophomore (year), it was the girls who were seniors and the girls who have played before. They were like mentors to me and they were always super helpful with anything that whenever I had any questions I was comfortable talking to them.”
The story is similar to most of the girls on the team. What makes this one unique is what they’ve accomplished in the short five years since the program started.
Avery Smith is one of the senior attackers on the team.
“Well, I think it starts with having a few good girls as your core and you’re just adding on,” she said.
They’ve added on all right. A team that started with just a little over a dozen now has almost 40 players.
With their improved roster, they became the first team in program history to reach the regional quarterfinals this year. They are also the first team in program history to reach 50 wins and the fastest to do it in Pasco County, adding the first in the county to advance to the regional semifinals to that list.
“One hundred percent proud of myself but mostly proud of my team,” Russo said. “Because from the beginning I know we could do it but finally able to hold that trophy above our head and take back what is ours, I’m totally proud of everything.”
The Coyotes would’ve loved to bring home a state title this year, but they fell short to Edgewood in the second round of the state tournament.
Hutner, who is excited to come back for another season, said she’s gotta give credit to her coaches for their success.
She said, “Just like the fact that they know and believe in us and that belief that we can do this. Along the year we picked up the word intensity, and that came from both of our coaches to just strive for us to be our best and play as best as we can.”
