Chase White ‘27 said, “I really want to enjoy a sport with the camaraderie of a team and staying fit while doing it.” This is how a lot of Upper School students feel as the spring season quickly approaches. Abington Friends School offers baseball, ultimate frisbee, golf, softball, track and field, and tennis.
However, girls’ lacrosse often flies under the radar. It is a fast-paced team sport played on Smith Field where players use a stick with a netted head to pass, carry, and most importantly, shoot the ball into their opponents’ goal to score points.
According to the Abington Friends School website, girls’ lacrosse has been under the leadership of Jessica Breuning since 2019. Breuning is a former lacrosse and soccer player from Cabrini College. “The team thrives with a developmentally focused, player-centered approach that emphasizes growth on and off the field.”
Mya Rodriguez ‘26 said, “We have really worked on stick skills like being able to hold the stick, cradle the stick, and to catch and throw with it while also still trying to work on the ground since the Smith Field is super bumpy and muddy right now. We are trying to handle our stick skills so the terrain doesn’t mess us up.”
Usually, girls’ lacrosse has about 2-3 games per week; some where they travel to other schools in the Friends School League, and others at home. Rodriguez said, “I’m really excited to play against George School. Always excited for our matchups because I always have somebody on the team recognize me since my little brother goes to that school.”
Molly Taylor ’28 believes there is one major focus for her team this year – that is, growth. Last year, the team lost several senior graduates, so this year the team is building back up and creating better chemistry among teammates.
“Our team does not have nearly as much experience as some of the other teams in our league,” Taylor said. “So we’re really just getting back to the basics.”
Taylor is excited about playing against other teams at a similar skill level, instead of dominating programs. The way she views things, AFS Lacrosse is an example of a program that is focusing on growth and creating its own identity, instead of just trying to win.
Taylor’s experience connects to a larger trend in the growth of girls’ lacrosse at the high school level. According to the Lacrosse Growth Statistics (2026 Report), the number of female high school lacrosse participants has increased to over 100,000 in the United States. An increasing number of young lacrosse players joining the game will result in a growing number of teams, including young, inexperienced players with limited skill levels.
It can be seen from looking at previous years’ results that teams that were in rebuilding phases tended to place a priority on player development. In addition, as the number of female high school lacrosse players continues to grow, so does the number of opportunities available to them. However, it is also increasing the competitive landscape.
Girls’ lacrosse is growing rapidly nationwide; schools such as Abington Friends School have helped shape what the sport will look like in the coming years. As more young female athletes join the ranks, the competition becomes stronger; however, it still provides room for all levels to grow. The purpose of the Abington Friends School girls’ lacrosse program isn’t simply about winning or losing games: it’s about how much better players improve, how they support one another both on and off the field, and building a strong foundation for the future.
