Mustangs bring positive energy into new year

BY JOSH YODER Sports reporter

MIDDLEBURG — MiddWest hopes to be in the mix during the 2023 girls lacrosse season under head coach Kailey Wagner and assistants Katie Kreider and Nicole Horst.

The Mustangs will be bringing plenty of depth to the roster this season which is important to have due needing 11 players on the field at a time. Having extra on the bench will help keep the Mustangs fresh throughout the season.

“We are very excited because we have 23 girls this year,” Wagner said.

Not only does MiddWest have plenty of depth on the roster this coming season. But they also have plenty of experience coming back to the team as well.

“They are more experienced because most played last year,” Wagner said. Wagner is keeping her eye on one particular player coming into the season in the form of goalie Macy Cook, who brings experience and will be looked at to guide the Mustangs throughout the year.

“Macy Cook, our goalie, is super motivated and it’s her third year,” Wagner said.

One of the core factors that the Mustangs will be using to their advantage is ball movement. The ex- perience of the players having played together for multiple years now has given the team confidence that they can compete with the best of them.

“Our passing and working together is important,” Wagner said. “We have had a couple of open gyms and the girls seem to be doing well with catching and passing.”

However, despite having a much more experienced team this season than in years past. There have been some concerns with several new rule changes that occurred prior to the season. Midd-West will look to do its best to adjust to them.

“The rules are something to look at because there were eight rule changes and we start lacrosse at Midd-West in the ninth grade so almost everyone starts lacrosse when they are in high school,” Wagner said.

The Mustangs will also be keeping their eye on one team in girls lacrosse in Danville. Wagner believes that Danville will again be a force to be reckoned with this season and want to show that they can be competitive with such a strong program like Danville.

“Danville is good because their program is really developed and they start at a young age while we start lacrosse in the ninth grade,” Wagner not- ed.

But, along with being competitive throughout the season. Midd-West hopes to focus on clean play, keep the ball moving and create multiple scoring chances while improving its record from a season ago.

“We want to get no cards for the season and work as a team and to have fun,” Wagner said.

When it is all said and done. Wagner wants her team to strive to get better and to better themselves off the field as well.

“We want to improve team work and have great sportsmanship,” Wagner stated.

Midd-West girls lacrosse

Head coach: Kailey Wagner

Assistant coach: Katie Kreider, Nicole Horst Last year’s overall record: (1-12)

Midd-West girls lacrosse schedule

March 27 at Mifflin County 4:30 p.m.

March 29 vs Bellefonte 5 p.m.

April 3 vs Lewisburg p.m.

April 11 at Danville p.m.

April 12 vs Selinsgrove p.m.

April 17 at Mifflinburg p.m.

April 20 vs Danville 5 p.m.

April 24 at Bellefonte 6 p.m.

April 26 at Lewisburg 4:30 p.m.

May 4 vs Mifflin County 5 p.m.

May 6 vs Lake Lehman 11 a.m.

May 6 vs Dallas 2 p.m.