Building Bonds and Looking Ahead: Gill St. Bernard’s Girls Lacrosse  

The Gill St. Bernard's Girls’ Lacrosse season was one of significant milestones amongst a team of tight-knit student athletes who always demonstrated maturity on the field and who were constantly supporting each other.  

Senior Captain Ava DiCesare recorded 100 career ground balls mid-way through the 2023 season and finished her time with the Knights with 61 goals, 19 assists, 112 ground balls, 168 draw controls, and 31 forced turnovers. Senior Captain Paige Brucker showcased her skills as a goalie, making 180 saves in the 2023 season alone and accumulating a career total of 413 saves. Brucker led the Skyland Conference Valley Division with the highest number of saves and save average—an impressive 46.6% 

“Our team captains had an incredible love of the sport,” said Head Coach Denise Wilson. “They shared positive energy and support for the team and the program, and I commend them for fostering the strong friendships which developed between the team members.” 

Additional stand-out players included Tessa Lozner ’25 who achieved 100 career goals in only 1.5 seasons. Lozner was the top scorer for the team for the second consecutive year, and she ended the season with a cumulative total of 152 goals, 19 assists, 44 ground balls, 79 draw controls, and 15 forced turnovers. Her record catapulted her to the top of the Valley Division and second in the Skyland Conference for goal scoring.  

Sidney Quinn ’25, a first-year lacrosse player who also participates in GSB Women's Basketball, demonstrated undeniable skill on the turf with 23 goals, 3 assists, 17 ground balls, 33 draw controls, and 7 forced turnovers–in just one season of play. 

When asked about the most memorable moment of the season, Coach Wilson expressed difficulty in choosing just one.  

“The growth and development of the players in terms of skills and team unity was a highlight,” Coach Wilson said. “I was proud of their willingness to try a new setup for games, with a 2/3/6 formation instead of the traditional 4/3/4 lineup, and how they adapted to new positions. Their flexibility contributed to improved performance, a better success rate, and a competitive edge over offensively strong opponents.” 

While the Knights closed out the season with a 6-12 overall record, they tallied a 4-2 record in the Valley Division and a 4-4 record in the Skyland Conference. They secured the 24th seating on Laxnumbers Non-Public rankings and the 12th seating on NJSIAA Non-Public B rankings.  

End-of-season honors included Brucker and Lozner being named to 1st Team Skyland Conference Valley Division, and DiCesare and Quinn being named to the 2nd Team. Isabel Barsanti ’24, Sofia Criscola ’25, and Alexa Knapp ’25 received Honorable Mentions.  

“The focus for the 2024 season will be working harder and smarter, especially during off seasons, and continuing to develop skills to overcome future opponents,” Coach Wilson said in closing.  

“For many of our players, this was their first experience with lacrosse, and the team provided an environment for them to try a new sport and challenge themselves mentally and physically. I look forward to seeing how they implement the lessons they’ve learned when we return next season.” 

Congratulations, Lady Knights, on a successful season!