Lebanon
“The focus is on our game, our fundamentals,” the 23rd-year bench boss says moments before the initial draw control, with rain and wind chilling everyone on the field. “Throwing, catching and really good defense.”
The hosts begin 0-for-3. The defense is almost nonexistent, and Hopkinton scores the game’s first seven goals. Hawks flit unguarded around the Lebanon end, making life stressful for goaltender Elizabeth Jones, who endures a series of one-on-one showdowns with talented forwards.
“Every shot they’ve taken, the girl has been completely open on the crease or next to it,” the netminder observes during the first timeout.
Urges Ecker: “Get on their sticks and pressure them. Don’t worry about the scoreboard.”
Which is now fixed, by the way, displaying a 14-3 Hopkinton lead at halftime. During the break, Ecker speaks for a bit, then moderates a discussion amongst her players. It’s a trademark of the coach, who also sends around a heart-shaped tin of Starburst fruit chew candies and makes sure each player takes one. Almost no one eats the yellow or orange chews; no one seems to know why.
Lebanon has played the first half with five starters on the sidelines, their inactivity the price for missing several practices held the previous week, when school was out for spring vacation. Ecker was up front with her players about the policy from the season’s start, so substantial contributors such as defenders Anna Wolke and Libby Stone and midfielder Zoe Soule participate only after intermission.
Wolke, a standout on the girls basketball team, departed the season opener at Bishop Brady during halftime so as not to miss a driver’s education class back home. The sophomore was in Nevada visiting extended family during vacation, and said the decisions to be absent weren’t easy.
“I know Sara’s not happy when people are gone and I don’t like making her upset, but I think she understands,” said Wolke, who will also miss the season finale because of family travel. “I don’t agree with skipping practice to skip practice, and I think of myself as a committed player, but this season has been particularly difficult.”
Wolke, a Plainfield resident, said she chose not to take driver’s education during the winter because basketball is her priority sport. The summer is out because she’ll be working at a local farm and traveling to visit other family members. So that left the spring and she didn’t want to wait another year, because being able to drive herself to practice will be easier on her family.
Ecker, who as a standout Hanover High and college player would have crawled to practice if necessary, has come to accept that few of those she coaches burn with similar desire. She’s also cognizant of family needs.
That doesn’t mean, however, that she doesn’t use the absence issue as a teaching tool. The day before the Hopkinton game, she told the players that it’s their team and that they need to decide how committed they are to it.
“I will never tell you that you have to be at practice or a game,” the coach said. “But don’t ask me to make that decision for you.”
The final score against Hopkinton is 17-6. Lebanon receives three goals from midfielder Izzy Peress, who’s in only her second season of lacrosse. Tall, athletic and with offensive instincts, the sophomore gets better as the game progresses.
Backup goaltender Emma Thibodeau, thrust into action after a shot jams Jones’ thumb during the first half, stuffs a shooter on the doorstep, and her teammates play inspired defense during the final five minutes.
Still, the question lingers: Does this group want to improve badly enough that it can hang with NHIAA Division III’s better teams by season’s end? Road games with three such foes, Bow, Laconia and Derryfield, soon await.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com or 603-727-3227.