Team grows with new routines

Junior varsity girls’ lacrosse works with new coach

New+girls+lacrosse+coach+Amanda+Loth+works+with+JV+team+members+before+their+game+May+16+against+Visitation%2FSt.+Paul+Academy.+JV+and+Varsity+both+play+against+Benilde+St.+Margerets+May+19+at+5%3A30+and+7+p.m.+at+the+home+stadium.+The+teams+next+game+is+May+19.

Mira Swartz

New girls’ lacrosse coach Amanda Loth works with JV team members before their game May 16 against Visitation/St. Paul Academy. JV and Varsity both play against Benilde St. Margeret’s May 19 at 5:30 and 7 p.m. at the home stadium. The team’s next game is May 19.

Sam Crary

Amanda Loth, the new JV girls’ lacrosse coach, looks to expand team members comprehension of the game.

“I try to let players have input as to what we do in practice, that way they tell me what they need to work on,” Loth said.

Senior Paige Pinneke said since the start of the season, Loth changed the team’s perspective on how to play lacrosse.

“She changed a lot of how we think of the game, really emphasizing positioning on the field,” Pinneke said.

Pinneke said she enjoys the new experiences and methods Loth brought this season.

“I love our new coach. Since it is her first year here there are definitely a lot of learning experiences for both us and her,” Pinneke said.

Loth said she spent several years coaching other teams before accepting the job at Park.

“This will be my third year coaching, but this is the first time I will be coaching on my own,” Loth said.

Loth said from the start of the season the team improved its ability to perform on the field.

“Since the start of the season, a lot of the awkwardness has dissipated and all the players have gotten more confident and comfortable on the field.”

Loth said for the remainder of the season the team needs to focus on running and passing.

“Once we are getting onto the field we are getting beat,” Loth said. “We haven’t had experience running as much and especially passing on the run.”

Pinneke said practices provide a setting for players to improve on the team’s weaknesses.

“We incorporate what we want to do into the practice which helps make practices fun and helpful,” Pinneke said.

According to Loth, the team’s defensive strategy works well, but the team struggles with offense, which needs more time to develop.

“We have a good strong defense, although our score sometimes doesn’t reflect that, but we really need to work on the offensive side of the field,” Loth said.

Pinneke said in order to win more games this season the team needs to work on the details of the game.

“We still need to work on positioning on the field, focusing more on the little things to help us in the long run,” Pinneke said.

The team’s next game takes place at 5:30 p.m. May 19 at the St. Louis Park stadium against Benilde-St. Margaret’s.