In back to back seasons, there has been change surrounding the Sun Prairie United girls lacrosse program. Last spring, Sun Prairie High School split into East and West, turning the program into a co-op. This time around, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is getting involved.
The state’s high school governing body is finally sanctioning both boys and girls lacrosse as a sport, removing club status and implementing some new rules. No longer will the girls play two halves of lacrosse, instead dividing the game into four quarters.
If there’s one program that has proven it can roll with the punches, it’s the Sun Prairie United girls lacrosse program. Last season got off to a brutal start as they lost their first nine games of the spring. Undeterred, they found their stride in the latter half. Sun Prairie won four of its final games, including two conference matchups, to finish on a high note.
Two key members, and returning team captains, helped make that positive transition possible. Leading the charge is senior Brooke Ayres, a two time first team all-conference selection. She was the most potent weapon on Sun Prairie’s offense last spring as she led the team in points scored with 21. 18 of those came from goals while three more came via assist. Ayres netted four hat tricks over the season. She saved her best performances for United’s late hot streak as three of her hat trick games translated into wins for United. In addition to her goal-scoring ability, she handled faceoff duties for Sun Prairie. She gained control of 71 of her 130 attempts on the season, more than half. Ayres also finished third on the team in groundballs with 22.
Fellow team captain and junior goalkeeper Teegan Davis also returns. She started 11 games in goal for United last spring and posted a 4-7 overall record. She saved 85 of the 191 shots on goal aimed her way. In the final game of the season, she held Watertown to just three goals in a win.
Joining Ayres and Davis as team captains this spring will be senior defenseman Alanna Johnson and senior attacker Haley Rollins. Johnson was described by Sun Prairie head coach Patrick Anderson as the leader of the defense, and her years with the program have proven very valuable.
Rollins dipped her toes into the scoring department last season, netting four goals. She was also valuable in the midfield as she scooped up 13 groundballs. With 27 goals scored from last season lost to graduation, there is an opportunity for an increased scoring role.
“The girls are learning to be more aggressive,” Sun Prairie head coach Patrick Anderson said of filling the scoring void. “We need goal scorers. I’ve seen that development where they’re using their bodies to get themselves in position. I talk to them a lot about being fearless. That’s how we’ll have to play this year. If we put the girls in the right environment on the field, they’ll be just fine.”
The experience and leadership doesn’t end there. Seniors Jimmiyah Duncan and Pearlie Lewko Rogers have been with the program for quite some time now and have seen their games evolve. Plenty more of the underclassmen will have to do the same this spring. The roster is primarily made up of sophomores, of which there are 11.
“I really enjoy watching these girls grow,” coach Anderson said. “They become more confident, more skilled, and have a great time meeting new friends. They’re helping the sport grow and I think it’s great for the greater Sun Prairie area. I hope we continue it. It’s always a process. Along the way, I hope we have a little bit of fun.”
The goal for Sun Prairie was set before the season even began. The 2024 season will end in their own backyard as Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium has been selected as the host site for the WIAA state championship for the next three seasons.
United’s new season will kick off at home at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium on Monday, April 8 with a non-conference clash against Sussex Hamilton. They’ll play twice in their opening week, adding a trip to Kimberly on Friday, April 12.
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