Cate Girls Varsity Lacrosse Senior Night

By: Lucy Guilbert-Neal '25

Last Tuesday, April 22nd, the girls' varsity lacrosse team celebrated Senior Night during their last league home game of the season against their rivals, Thacher. Although they won 18-8, this evening held deeper significance beyond the scoreboard.

In the days leading up to the game, Coach Renee Mack and the team’s juniors organized the Senior Night ceremony. Each Junior wrote a short speech commemorating each senior’s impact on the team and their achievement during their Cate lacrosse journey. Alongside the speeches, personalized posters and bouquets were gifted to each senior. When asked about the seniors leaving at the end of this season, Harper Halbardier, a current junior on the team, expressed, “It feels like my big sisters are leaving, but I’m excited to uphold their legacy.”

For senior captain Sophia Ospina, her favorite part of the celebration was seeing the fun and creative posters the juniors made. Despite the joy of the moment, she also described the experience as emotional and bittersweet. “This last league game marked the end of my high school sports career,” she shared. “I’ve always loved playing at home at Cate—not just for the convenience, but for the support from faculty, staff, friends, and fellow students.” 

Sophia added that she will miss the unique friendships formed on the team, particularly with younger players with whom she hasn’t overlapped much with during her time at Cate. For those who are planning to join the team in the future, but especially for juniors stepping up into leadership roles next year, Sophia offers advice, saying, “Play as a team and support each other on and off the field.” She went on to stress the importance of grit, having confidence, and being a team player. Sophia also brought up the importance of one’s mental toughness and how it sometimes outweighs one’s physical toughness.

Coach Renee Mack described this year’s seniors as hardworking, determined, and gritty. She shared, “The seniors set the bar for how the team plays every day.” She goes on to say that due to their competitive nature and high energy, they are able to compartmentalize well, bringing focus and passion to the field. Their focus and passion stood out, allowing them to compete intensely while maintaining composure. Reflecting on their development, Mack noted, “That’s the coolest part. None of them came in playing lacrosse, so their progress reflects pure dedication and competitive spirit.”

For Coach Mack, her favorite part of Senior Night was witnessing the juniors’ admiration for the seniors. She added, “That's something that's earned, it's not just given. And so to see how much it mattered to the juniors, that they had the opportunity to speak about the seniors and show their love and affection and gratitude to me was the coolest part because it was so well-earned and deserved.”

Though the team continues into CIF playoffs, this final guaranteed home game marks a milestone for the seniors, closing a significant chapter in both their lacrosse and athletic careers at Cate.