What Next For Churchill Girls Varsity Lacrosse?
A rising senior, Zoe Kabelac, has left her mark on the Winston Churchill lacrosse community.
Photo: Ralph Cocco / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Zoe Kabelac of the Winston Churchill Girls Lacrosse team had an amazing 2009 season. Her efforts earned her the title of being the leading scorer with 79 goals in Montgomery County.
Photo: Ralph Cocco / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
"Zoe takes the game seriously," said Coach Pena. "She not only works on her skills during practice, but when she goes home as well. She is a very determined and smart player. She has excellent all around athletic ability and the will to win."
Photo: Ralph Cocco / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
POTOMAC, MD - The Spring 2009 season was phenomenal for the Winston Churchill Bulldogs Girls Varsity Lacrosse team. In her first outing as Head Coach, Christen Pena-Ariet led the team to an undefeated regular season and a strong showing in the playoffs.
Pena's will and determination pushed the team to their limits and turned them into one of the best high school lacrosse teams in the state of Maryland. But with the graduation of some talented seniors, many are wondering what is next for the Bulldogs.
This year's star player for the Bulldogs was Angela Biciocchi. She was a huge contributor to Churchill's lacrosse team over the past four years. She has been accepted into the University of Delaware and will play for their Division I lacrosse team.
Although Biciocchi's exceptional athletic abilities will be missed, a rising senior, Zoe Kabelac, has also left her mark on the Winston Churchill lacrosse community.
Kabelac had an amazing season and was the leading scorer in Montgomery County. Kabelac plays A-Wing and scored a record 79 goals (to Biciocchi's 71) with about 20 assists.
Now that Biciocchi will no longer be playing for Churchill, Coach Pena looks to Kabelac to help lead the team to another fabulous season.
Kabelac credits Pena for her success with the Bulldogs.
"I thought Pena was a great coach. She really wanted to win and hated losing," Kabelac said. "She wanted all of us to push ourselves to get better and play harder. ...with her everything is competitive, even practice. She got us into shape, which helped us, especially in the second half of games."
Interestingly, Kablelac admits lacrosse did not come naturally when she started in the 6th grade. She picked it up as an alternative to playing softball at Bullis. But her hard work has paid off for her, and for the Bulldogs.
"Zoe takes the game seriously," said Coach Pena. "She not only works on her skills during practice, but when she goes home as well. She is a very determined and smart player. She has excellent all around athletic ability and the will to win."
Kabelac puts a lot of time and effort into lacrosse and is determined to become an even better player. She currently plays on Frederick Stars Lacrosse (FSLAX) three days a week for two and a half hours in addition to tournaments and games on the weekends.
Kabelac is always busy improving her lacrosse skills and working hard. She will be participating in some lacrosse camps throughout the summer. Kabelac also loves to throw the ball around with her sister and play in her backyard on the bounce-back net. Kabelac never passes up an opportunity; there is always room for improvement.
"Zoe is an incredibly hard worker that keeps improving," said Kabelac's trainer, Becky Clipp.
Clipp should know. She has had plenty of lacrosse experience herself. She has been playing lacrosse in her back yard since she was about three years old, and started organized lacrosse at age ten.
Clipp played lacrosse for on the University of Maryland Lacrosse Team and is currently a member of the US National Lacrosse Team. She has been training Kabelac for the last nine months.
"She has the natural ability and drive to make it in the next level. I think wherever she ends up she will excel," said Clipp.
Kabelac admits that Clipp has had a big influence on her.
"I play with [Becky] and a small group of people on Sundays," said Kabelac. "She has really encouraged me to try new things when I am playing. Plus she is a lot of fun and very energetic and it makes me want to play more because it's so much fun."
Kabelac's team spirit and love for the game of lacrosse shows when she is on the field. She always has her game face on and is not afraid of a challenge. Kabelac will be sure is determined to bring the Bulldogs to their greatest potential in her senior year at Winston Churchill High School.
"I am really looking forward to next year's season and I hope it will be as good as last season," said Kabelac.
