A clutch closer, Kassidy Carmichael is the catalyst for a Westford girls' lacrosse team racking up goals
The catalyst is senior captain
Kassidy Carmichael
(58 goals, 79 points, 80 percent draw-control rate), a force with 500 career points who is committed to play both ice hockey and lacrosse at Ohio State.
Her experience playing for the US Under-18 women's national team, and scoring two goals in the gold medal match win in 2024, has translated to her readiness in clutch moments on the field.
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'I always loved [
Jonathan
]
Papelbon
,' Westford coach
Julie Olivier
said of the former Red Sox shutdown closer. '[Kassidy] to me is sort of that closer. She doesn't crumble under pressure; she actually gets better.'
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Her poise was on display in a 15-13 win at league rival Concord-Carlisle, an opponent the Ghosts hadn't beaten in at least six years. On a rainy day that prompted a half-hour delay, Carmichael notched two goals in the final minute to give the Ghosts the victory, capping an eight-goal, 17-draw control night.
'Coach had me explain how to keep your composure in big situations,' Carmichael said. 'So we talked about what we needed to work on and came up with a game plan.'
Concord-Carlisle was the team's toughest challenge yet, but the Ghosts did not let the bright lights affect their vision.
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Carmichael's sister, sophomore
Kiley
(53 goals, 89 points), followed with four goals. She pointed to earlier this season, in a 13-11 loss to Newton North, in which the Ghosts trimmed an eight-goal deficit to two.
It's already bad enough dealing with one Carmichael on Westford Academy, but two?!? Senior Kassidy Carmichael (right) has teamed up with sophomore sister Kiley to form a scary tandem in Ghost-land.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
'That shows as a team that we don't give up,' Kiley Carmichael said. 'If there's something in our way, we can push past it if we put our mind to it.'
The compete level does not end with the sisters. Senior captain
Erin Keefe
holds down the defense, junior captain
Evelyn Weber
has returned this year after missing all of last season with an ACL tear, and sophomore goaltender
Ava Preysnar
is a formidable shot-stopper.
Weber spent all of last season by Olivier's side, learning a lot about the mental part of the game to get her in the right headspace after a difficult injury.
'I got the coach's perspective,' Weber said. 'Going in this year, I felt like I had a greater sense of insight into the game of lacrosse and being able to see things differently.'
Keefe has grown with the program alongside Carmichael, both in the toughest times and the brighter ones, like its 11-9 win at Belmont this year.
'I think that one was definitely a game where defensively we kind of realized that we could be legit,' Keefe said.
In the back, Preysnar is just in her second season in goal, but has quickly shown her confidence and desire to improve.
'It's kind of a life sport now,' Preysnar said. 'I got used to it.'
The Ghosts have only won one DCL championship in their program's history, in 2013. This year, they have the chance to make history in the league and beyond.
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'All along the way, I knew they were capable of it,' said Olivier. 'But to actually see it happen is just another confirmation that we have an opportunity for a good run.'
Behind the strength of sisters Kiley (9) and Kassidy Carmichael (19), Westford Academy is gunning for its second Dual County League title, the first coming in 2013.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Quick sticks
▪ When Westwood senior goalie
Kathryn Donnellan
made one final save as time expired Wednesday, it was a fitting end to an impressive 14-11 triumph over Cohasset.
Donnellan plays with the composure of a longtime goalie, but in reality she first latched onto the position sophomore year. A defender growing up, she embraced a new role on junior varsity that spring and hasn't looked back since.
She became the varsity starter last year and is now a standout on one of the state's best teams. Donnellan, who has worked with assistant and goalie coach
Hayley Barner
, has 100 saves and a .520 save percentage for the No. 1 Wolverines (15-1).
'Her focus on the technical aspects of the position has allowed her teammates to be confident in her abilities, thus creating a really strong and cohesive defensive unit,' Westwood coach
Margot Spatola
said.
▪ After finishing last season with an 8-13 record on a senior-less squad, Archbishop Williams has bounced back convincingly with a 12-3 mark.
With the vast majority of the team back, and a strong core of six seniors, the Bishops have vaulted to No. 14 in the Division 3 power rankings.
'There's been a lot of stepping up on the field this season,' third-year coach
CeCi Hodgkins
said. 'We jelled as a group and grew.'
Avery Valicenti
(62 goals),
Emily Fleming
(31 goals), and
Clare O'Keefe
(29 goals) are all catalysts, and goalie
Aliya Greenwood
has helped the defense make major strides.
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▪ Apponequet (11-2) has continued its winning ways — highlighted by wins over New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Dighton-Rehoboth — and is up to No. 9 in Division 3.
The Lakers' top three scorers are junior
Cece Levrault
(33 goals, 13 assists), senior
Abby Bradley
(36 goals, 25 assists), and senior
Jayleigh Howarth
(18 goals, 18 assists). Senior goalie
Ally Arruda
has 68 saves.
'The girls are working very hard and are determined to do well,' Apponequet coach
Cindy Cuthbertson
said.
Games to watch
Tuesday, Weston at No. 8 Lincoln-Sudbury, 4:15 p.m.
— The Weston has won four straight and will look for its most impressive victory to date against a strong Warriors squad.
Wednesday, No. 11 Hingham at No. 4 Cohasset, 3:30 p.m.
— Hingham continues to challenge itself with a very tough schedule, hoping it pays dividends long term.
Wednesday, No. 2 Notre Dame (Hingham) at No. 1 Westwood, 4 p.m.
— In one of the more captivating matchups of the regular season, the top two teams in the Globe Poll battle in a nonleague clash and potential Division 2 tournament preview.
Wednesday, No. 18 King Philip at No. 3 Walpole, 6 p.m.
— The upset-minded Warriors will try to keep it rolling against one of the state's best.
Thursday, No. 10 Reading at No. 13 Medfield, 5:30 p.m.
— This will be a great test for both teams as they prepare for what they hope will be deep postseason runs in their respective divisions.
Correspondent Trevor Hass contributed to this story.
Aiden Barker can be reached at
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