by Rob Klemko
After Robin Anderson fell off the horse, her team hopped on.
The Oakland Mills High girls’ lacrosse coach, a horseback-riding teacher at the Madeira School in McLean, Va., broke her collarbone in October when she fell out of the saddle during her equestrian class. Anderson worried about how her team would react, but for the senior-heavy Scorpions, the lack of supervision was more of a challenge than a setback.
“They put me all back together but I was not allowed to drive… so I was out of the picture and it was almost helpful for them because they worked out more this off-season than they ever had,” Anderson said. “They were playing lacrosse, they were passing, they were going on runs. I had other teachers telling me ‘your girls are doing really well.’ The whole team stepped it up.”
After graduating eight players last season, nine seniors are fighting for starting spots. Those eight left behind the modest beginnings of a girls’ lacrosse legacy at Oakland Mills, winning the first senior night game in Anderson’s five years at the school.
“It was a milestone for the program and the girls just had a blast,” Anderson said. “They hadn’t won a game in four years when I got there… I’m still trying to dig us out of the basement.”
Despite the heavy senior presence, Anderson says it will be more of a learning process with the 2008 squad.
“This year is more of a teaching year, I have to kind of step back and teach the fundamentals and basics,” Anderson said. “Last year was a going over plays and a repetition type of year and this year is all about drills and keeping them mentally focused.”
Anderson expects the team to be well grounded with the leadership of senior midfielder Kristen Hise, who will play at Cornell University next year. The Scorpions will get an immediate test with their season opener at defending county champ Mount Hebron Tuesday afternoon.
Oakland Mills Scorpions girls’ lacrosse, at a glance:
Coach: Robin Anderson
2007 record: 4-10
Top returning players: Kristen Hise, Sr., midfield; Remina Greenfield, Sr., midfield; Margo Santiago, Sr., defense
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