By John Shimer
Staff writer
May 22, 2008 12:15 am She's scored 235 goals and tallied 81 assists, she's been called "the best player I've faced this year" by an opposing coach, her future college coach expects her to be a leader as a freshman on a team that is the defending Northeast-10 champions, and now Sarah Galligan is the 2008 Cape Ann League Division 1 girls lacrosse player of the year. Although the CAL was dominated by North Andover (16-1) and Masconomet (13-2), Galligan was the player that stuck out amongst the CAL coaching community. "As a coach you need to pay attention to her at all times," said Georgetown coach Heather Hartford, whose daughter Shannon was named the CAL Division 2 player of the year. "Sarah has a great game sense and can really see the field well. When she gets space, she goes to the net hard, and you have to be quick as a defender to keep her out of the critical scoring area, otherwise Sarah will make you pay. "I think she'll only continue to grow with higher coaching, although (Pentucket coach) Bob Pierce has done excellent job with her," Hartford continued. "She's a classy, well-rounded athlete and a real pleasure to watch." Triton coach Stacey Beaulieu's assessment was virtually identical. "She's a smart player that always seems to be around the ball, and can play either end of the game extremely well," said Beaulieu of Galligan, who scored six goals in her only game against the Vikings. "You have to make sure your players are aware Galligan is a playmaker because she can have a big influence on the game. "Out of the big division games we played, she was probably the best player I saw, and definitely one of the best we faced all year." Averaging four goals and two assists per game against North Andover and Masconomet (who the Sachems played twice each), Galligan clearly played her best when it mattered most. But when the Sachems lost their other all-league player Lyndsay Beaton to mono and their starting goalie for the year, Galligan raised her game to another level. "After we found out we lost both Lyndsay and our goalie, the team easily could've collapsed in the next game against Ipswich," said Pierce. "Instead, Sarah probably had her best overall game defensively and offensively." Pentucket beat the Tigers, 17-15, and improved to 6-2. With a game to go Galligan (67 goals, 26 assists) will likely eclipse the 100-point plateau for a second straight year today against Newburyport (3:45 p.m.) or in the state tournament. According to Pierce, though, that point total could have been drastically higher. "We have played several teams this year that really aren't all that good, but Sarah doesn't go after the garbage-time goals," Pierce said. "In those games she sits back and sets up her teammates. She could have easily padded her stats with another 10-20 goals, but she wants to support her teammates." And although Galligan has clearly mastered the killer instinct, it's her cordial demeanor on the field to referees, opposing coaches and opposing players that sometimes catches people off guard. "On a personal level, Sarah is a great teammate and great captain. Other coaches and referees often come over after games and say the same thing, not only is she a great player, but a great leader," Pierce said. "People like playing against her because she's nice, it's not uncommon to hear her say, 'nice play,' to the opponent after that player may make a great play on the field. She's a good all-around sportsman." While her play certainly would have garnered plenty of attention at the next level, it was her good-hearted nature that sealed the deal in going to play both field hockey and lacrosse at Stonehill College. "She came highly recommended from her club coaches (Mass Elite) and she put together a good recruiting video," said Stonehill lacrosse coach Katie Lambert. "When she came for her official visit, you could tell she was an awesome kid and the type of person that will succeed at Stonehill." The expectations are high; Lambert expects Galligan to be a leader in the incoming class of 11 freshmen recruits, and also in the entire program. "Every once in a while you recruit a kid you think will make your team better both on the field and off the field," Lambert explained. "Sarah is one of the girls, and we're hoping she steps into a leadership role right from the get-go. I know it's tough for a young kid to assume that role, but that's the way we feel about her." High praise for a player that hasn't even graduated from high school yet. But after earning the adulation of everyone around her, Galligan appears to deserve it.
—
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.