Shaler Area girls lacrosse motivated after missing WPIAL playoffs

By: Josh Rizzo
Thursday, April 11, 2019 | 10:17 PM

Having another year together has done the Shaler girls lacrosse program a lot of good.

Missing out on a trip to the playoffs helped bring everyone together.

“Our biggest strength is teamwork,” Titans coach Ali Nicholas said. “We work well as a team. Last year, a lot of the girls were trying to make a way for themselves, and it didn’t work. They are leaning on their teammates and working together. I think that’s our biggest thing this year.”

The Titans are 3-5 overall and 0-3 in Section 2-AAA. Shaler had a section match against Indiana last Wednesday rescheduled because of a lack of referees.

The Titans’ most recent contest was a 14-4 loss to North Hills on April 8.

One of Shaler’s key goals is shaking off the disappointment from last season when the Titans finished 6-11 and 2-10 in conference play.

Shaler’s season so far has been marked with close calls. The Titans dropped two matches, against Seton LaSalle and Seneca Valley, by one goal.

“I think we need to keep pushing through because in the final seconds we are still with teams,” Nicholas said. “No one is thinking they are not good enough, and they know we can keep up with these teams. They are ready to compete. It’s tough to lose by one in the final seconds, but it helps build us as a team.”

One big improvement has come on offense.

The Titans are averaging 7.4 goals this year. Shaler’s best two goal-scoring performances came against South Fayette and Canon-McMillan when the Titans scored 16 and 15 goals, respectively.

Riley Wilson, Mackenzie Romac and Jasey Reiser have led a balanced scoring effort.

Part of the diversity from the offensive attack has come from another year of maturity for a young roster.

Shaler hopes to parlay its experience into a playoff berth. First, the Titans will have to find a way to continue to make improvements as they navigate their way through the section.

“The maturity level has changed, so when they find themselves in certain situations they have the experience they can be confident and handle it,” Nicholas said. “They don’t have to worry about being young anymore because they have that skill level.”

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