By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

Goffstown News/Bruce Preston Freshman goalie Conor Nolan needs to catch his breath during lacrosse practice. Nolan will guard the net for the Grizzlies’ inaugural lax season.

This spring, Goffstown High School will introduce its first-ever boys and girls lacrosse teams.

The Friends of Goffstown Lacrosse (FGL), a locally based group of parents, coaches and children, started a recreational league three years ago. Eighteen original players on one team grew to more than 100 players on five teams, including the new Grizzlies teams.

“It’s awesome to see the kids jump on to this new sport,” said John Plourde, a member and coach in the FGL. “We now have U11, U13, U15 and high school teams thanks to the popularity of lacrosse.”

The boys varsity team will be led by Dave Maloney, a former lacrosse coach at St. Anselm College in Goffstown.

Jess Brown, already the varsity head coach for Goffstown’s field hockey team, will coach the girls lax team.

Maloney, a Goffstown police officer, said he needed a break from the demands of college coaching, but got involved with the GFL to give his children a chance to play.

“I coached my kids and realized how much I missed it,” said Maloney. “Coaching high school will be less time consuming than college, so I can give more to the program.”

Maloney said he looks forward to training some younger players who’ve never even held a lacrosse stick.

The Grizzlies will start this year playing a mixed bag of teams, some also in their inaugural lacrosse seasons.

Next year, Maloney said, the team will face a full Division II lineup.

With the recent success of Goffstown’s wrestling program, earning a D-II title in its fifth year, Maloney wants similar progress from his young charges.

“Some of the guys on the team have been playing for the last few years,” said Maloney. “There’s talent to work with, so we should be able to compete.”

According to Maloney, the biggest challenge was raising money to fund the program. The major portion of funds has come from the efforts of the GFL’s Fundraising Club.

Brown, new to lacrosse herself, said coaching a new sport is scary, but her experience with coaching at Goffstown gives her a good foundation.

“When the AD [athletics director] asked me if I’d be interested, I was hesitant at first,” said Brown. “The idea became more appealing once I thought how fun it would be to try a new sport.”

The girls lacrosse team has virtually no experience, but Brown said it was the girls who pushed to start the program.

“They get to be part of something new,” said Brown. “They’re making history for the school. Everyone involved is so excited about that.”

The boys begin their season at The Derryfield School on April 12 at 4 p.m.

The girls host Hollis/Brookline on April 13 at 4 p.m.