Lacrosse notebook: Connerty’s return to sideline a good fit in Cohasset

It can be very laborious leaving a place you have inevitably called home Legendary girls lacrosse coach Kara Connerty identified herself at a crossroads in the summer of Following much consideration she opted to turn the page to a new chapter in life departing Norwell High School after a decorated tenure featuring state championships across an array of sports I think it was just time for a change Connerty disclosed I think in the summer I realized that That was a time where I did a few reflection It was definitely a arduous decision I grew up in Norwell I live in Norwell my family s from Norwell But again at that time it was the best decision for me and my family But it didn t take that long for Connerty to miss the competition She decided to find a way back to the sideline Missing that fall season hurt noted Connerty But I knew that if a position became available for lacrosse I definitely was hoping I d be coaching by the spring I find coaching very rewarding working with young women trying to empower them Out of the blue a job posting opened up It just so happened to be at a fellow South Shore League institution and a historic one at that when Cohasset High School began a search for a girls lacrosse coach The position became available in January reported Connerty I had left Norwell in August When that position became available I just thought What a terrific opportunity if they offered me the position for this season It only took a sparse weeks before the school selected Connerty for the post this past February She became the latest in a string of four coaches at Cohasset the past four seasons Cohasset captured the Div crown last year with a - win over Ipswich in the championship You d think it would be a stressful task trying to repeat while installing a new plan Instead it has been all systems go for the Skippers who are off to a - start on the year Connerty began her coaching career at Cohasset as an assistant with its girls soccer band as well as the school s co-op gymnastics gang with Norwell While Connerty coaches players such as Reese Hansen have taken efforts forward on the field Like her older sisters Elle and Jane Hansen has helped carry on a winning tradition at Cohasset as a hybrid athlete with the ability to perform just about anything on the field with success This year the senior has led the attack sniping goals and dishing out assists Hansen will also be following in her siblings footsteps as she is committed to Northwestern It s been great Hansen explained I ve been familiar with Connerty s coaching staff through Mass Elite our club unit So I d known her coming in but so far our plan is about halfway through the season and it is just such a positive setting She s a tough coach but I think that s what we needed especially after the effective season we had last year I think we yearned to come in with a tough coach to keep us working hard She brings so much vigor and has such a passion for the championship that it s motivated us as a class and a whole campaign to play at our best That s what we plan to do In addition to Hansen Cohasset has been propelled by the Regan duo with Avery goals four assists and Emily goals eight assists each lighting up the scoreboard Kate Greer has created plays offensively herself with goals and assists As of Friday morning Cohasset was ranked second overall in the MIAA s Div girls lacrosse power rankings with a rating of The Skippers have climbed to the No spot in the Herald s top and they have done so with impressive wins over premier schools such as Reading Longmeadow and Moses Brown RI However their two season-changing games came against the likes of titans such as Penn Yan NY an - win April and the state s top-ranked crew at the time with a wild - domination over Notre Dame Hingham April Both of those teams are just so talented and so well-coached explained Hansen I think we knew going into those games how tough they were going to be But we worked together and in the end we came out with the win I think those games will motivate us to keep pushing through the rest of the season and hopefully winning a few more Cohasset still has a complex schedule ahead with games against powerhouses such as Sandwich Hingham Central Catholic and Norwell remaining Yet it just feels as though the Skippers might just cruise given the way they have been performing It s just been such a wonderful experience thus far Connerty stated The transition has been terrific The kids have been so diligent in their work Obviously they ve had four different coaches in four years various of these seniors So I give them so much credit because they really are a team-first project It s just a cohesive group of girls that want to work hard They were just very enthusiastic from the beginning The welcome that I received was terrific from them the administration the families It s just been such a positive start to the season