Ryann Frechette is a scorer in the spotlight.
A two-time state champion. A future Florida Gator. Winner of the Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Lacrosse award. She knows defenses are focusing on her. And now, the Bartram Trail senior is used to the pressure as she helps the Bears chase history.
"I think that's why I play, for those difficult moments so I can get better as a player," Frechette said.
With a Sunshine State statistical giant helping to lead the pack, the Bears continue their championship quest, taking on Vero Beach in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal. Start time is 5 p.m. Friday at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples.
Victory there would mean the chance for another lacrosse first on the First Coast.
Until Bartram Trail achieved the feat last year, no Northeast Florida team had ever won back-to-back state lacrosse championships. Now, the Bears are two games away from making it three.
All intensity. No complacency.
"There's always places where I can get better," goaltender Maddie Stevens said. "I'm not getting complacent, just always working on my game."
Armed with one of Florida's all-time lacrosse stars in senior Frechette, who surpassed the 100-goal mark for the third time in her four seasons, the Bears can score from all over. Bartram Trail is no one-player team.
They've already crossed a difficult road to reach this point, needing overtime and a pair of late goals from freshman Esa Brenneman to overcome Lake Mary in last Friday's regional final.
"We kind of proved to ourselves that we can fight from whistle to whistle, to the very end," said Bears coach Megan O'Grady, in her first season as head coach.
FRECHETTE LEADS BALANCED BEARS ATTACK
Based on Frechette's career numbers, it's no wonder that opponents have her in their sights at all times. She scored 121 goals as a freshman, 94 as a sophomore after recovering from a knee injury, 135 as a junior and 109 and counting in her senior season.
"I definitely rely a lot more on my teammates to show their skills and get me the ball when I'm open for those split seconds," Frechette said.
But opponents are learning quickly that they can't shut down Bartram Trail by blanketing Frechette with defenders.
"A lot of our girls have gotten 20-plus goals over the course of the season, and it really makes us a versatile team," O'Grady said.
This year, Emily Barnette has 65 goals for the Bears, while Esa Brenneman is up to 47, Ava Allamon has 29 and Savannah Payne has 23.
"A big goal of mine this year is working our attack from down low, and having Ryann and Esa there is a great strength," O'Grady said. "But also being able to grow in working it from up top, where Emily's been great."
NEXT WAVE BUILDS FOR BARTRAM TRAIL
Even with seniors like Frechette, Barnette and Stevens near the end of their Bears careers, the future is bright.
Next in line might be Brenneman, who keeps coming through with breakthrough plays. The freshman scored the game-tying goal moments before the buzzer to force overtime, then tallied the game-winning goal during the extra session.
Since joining the lacrosse squad after a winter with the Bears' basketball team, she's emerged as a major contributor for the Bears both as a scorer and in draw controls.
"I think she's just going to explode these next couple of years," O'Grady said.
Vero Beach has become a familiar opponent for Bartram Trail, dashing their hopes in 2021 before the Bears edged them 8-7 in the 2022 title game to begin the streak. But after their season so far, the Bears are thoroughly tested for battle.
"We've played a lot of out-of-state teams, which gave us some great competition, and we fought every game the whole way through," Frechette said. "And so we all learned really to never give up."
CLASS 2A GIRLS LACROSSE SEMIFINAL
Who: Bartram Trail (16-5) vs. Vero Beach (16-4).
When: 5 p.m. Friday.
Where: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Naples.
Winner faces: Tampa Plant or Parkland Douglas, Saturday, time TBD.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Time for a three-peat? Bartram Trail girls lacrosse chases FHSAA history in Naples
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