Trust is key in all sports. Teamwork derives from the idea that the players on the team trust each other. Trust comes with practice though, and due to weather and bad field conditions, that is something that the girls’ lacrosse team hasn’t had a lot of.

Before last Wednesday’s scrimmage against Lakeland, the team had only practiced outside three times, and losing five starters and an All-North Jersey goalie to graduation, this was not a situation that was set up for the Indians success.

“Everyone’s figuring out how everyone plays,” said coach Melissa Velez who is in her fifth season with the Indians, “I think our attack this year is our strongest asset. Our defense is very good too when they work together.”

Time is precious in a situation like this where the Indians may be playing two or three games a week, there isn’t much practice time in between games. The cohesiveness is most important with the schedule the team is playing this year. Velez explained that in the past, there have been three or four games that would have been easy wins for the team, but those games were dropped and replaced with harder, more competitive teams. Winning those games though, may be just what the girls need to help establish their reputation in North Jersey.

Velez is hopeful and excited about the future of her team, “We are going to play a new defense. We are switching from man to zone in order to force more outside shots.”

Going forward, the Indians are looking to their veteran experience in order to ensure that they are improving. The cold and rain the past few days have downgraded the Indians’ performance, but as the weather improves, the team is looking to get better and better so they peak when it counts.

LAST WEEK: In their season home opener on Wednesday, the team fell to Lakeland in a bitterly cold game 9-7. High scorer was Natalie Bade with three goals, and Lydia Christiano and Ana Beyer each added 2. On Saturday they traveled to Roxbury to face the Gaels and fell 12-7. Bade and Beyer each scored two goals.

THIS WEEK: Monday the team travels to Wayne Hills to face the Patriots at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday the Indians host Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 4:30 p.m. as well before taking a short game break for the Easter holiday.